Congresswoman Julia Letlow (LA-05) Introduces the Newborn Essentials Support Toolkit (NEST) Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Julia Letlow introduced the Newborn Essentials Support Toolkit (NEST) Act, along with co-lead Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08), and original cosponsors Congresswomen Marrianette Miller-Meeks (IA-01) and Nanette Barragan (CA-04). The NEST Act seeks to establish a pilot program at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to distribute newborn supply kits made up of essential goods critical to new mothers and their infants.

Through public-private partnerships, HHS will work with community based organizations, hospitals, and other organizations serving mothers and infants, to distribute the supply kits.

Today, the cost of a baby in the first year of life is on average $15,000. This number is rising due to inflation. In addition, nearly 1 in 5 women – regardless of age, income, or race – will suffer from a maternal mental health condition. The stress of a new baby, financial issues, and the life transition of a new child are all leading contributing factors to maternal health complications.

Program specifications include the following:

• Newborn supply kits shall include but are not limited to items like diapers, wipes, hygiene items, blankets, thermometers for newborns, postpartum pads, lotion, cold packs, breastfeeding supplies, blood pressure monitor, information on the maternal mental health hotline, information about postpartum supports, and other items as deemed necessary by the Secretary to support infant and postpartum health.
• The pilot shall distribute supplies in geographically diverse areas across the United States.
• The pilot shall focus on areas of need, such as maternal health deserts and rural communities, including those communities with the highest maternal mortality rates.
• The Secretary shall ensure that the pilot will make kits available to all mothers who give birth, prioritizing those first in the lower socioeconomic class or status of private or public health care.

“I believe being a mother is one of life’s greatest blessings, but it does not come without its fair share of challenges,” said Rep. Letlow. “It is my goal to make sure any woman who chooses to become a mother receives the information and support necessary to create a nurturing environment for their child. The NEST Act will get us a big step closer to achieving that goal.”

“As a pediatrician and a mother, I know the difficulties that mothers of newborns face - physical, mental, and financial struggles are common in the 4th Trimester and present immense challenges. In fact, common expenses in an infant's first year of life average at $15,000 a year,” said Rep. Schrier. “That’s why I’m proud to work across the aisle to introduce the NEST Act and provide much-needed support for mothers by providing them with the resources they need for themselves and their newborns.”

“Congresswoman Letlow’s leadership to provide vital resources to new moms across the country is an important and innovative step towards addressing maternal health,” said E.J. Kuiper, President and CEO of Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System. “Too often, Louisiana only enters the conversation in a negative light and programs such as this will undoubtedly save lives. We are proud to work with Congresswoman Letlow to improve Louisiana’s maternal health rates and help ensure new mothers receive the support and supplies they need.”

“I express my heartfelt appreciation for Congresswomen Julia Letlow, Kim Schrier, MD, Marianette Miller-Meeks, and Nanette Barragan’s leadership in introducing the NEST Act,” said Kay Matthews, Founder and Executive Director of the Shades of Blue Project. “This critical legislation will support infant health and both maternal mental and physical health in the postpartum period, when maternal deaths and complications are most likely to occur. For years, the Shades of Blue Project has been independently distributing maternal supply kits across the nation and has seen the resounding positive impact in the lives of mothers and children. Through the NEST Act, the Congresswomen are creating federal infrastructure for the commonsense distribution of essential goods that will reduce the burden of inflation and economic strain on new parents and improve access to lifesaving informational resources, such as the new federal Maternal Mental Health Hotline number. With one in three women of color, servicewomen, and rural moms facing a maternal mental health condition, the importance of simple, yet effective health interventions like NEST cannot be overstated.”

“The Newborn Essentials Support Toolkit Act (NEST Act) offers an incredible opportunity to fight maternal and infant mortality in real time in the communities most affected,” said Bruce Lesley, President of First Focus Campaign for Children. “The bill, introduced today by Reps. Julia Letlow (R-LA) Kim Schrier (D-WA), will provide newborn supply kits to parents that will include diapers, wipes, postpartum and breastfeeding supplies, blood pressure monitors, and information that every new parent needs. Reps. Schrier and Letlow have truly captured the spirit of Children’s Week with this bipartisan, innovative way to address our country’s shameful rate of maternal and infant mortality, which both outstrip the rates in other high-income countries. No mom or baby in the richest country on earth should die from a lack of care, supplies, or information.”

"The Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance (MMHLA) applauds Representative Letlow and Representative Schrier on the introduction of the NEST bill,” said Jamie Zahlaway Belsito, Founder/Director of Policy and Partnerships for the Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance. This bill is an essential policy that will help provide critical materials to ensure every new family, Mother and baby get off to a solid start. Maternal mental health (MMH) conditions like anxiety, OCD and bipolar are the number one complication of all pregnancy. MMH conditions, in conjunction with substance use disorder, are the leading cause of Maternal Mortality, affecting women of color at 2-3 times higher rates. We are pleased to see that information on the new national maternal mental health hotline, will be included in the proposed newborn supply kit. Maternal mental health conditions are preventable, temporary and treatable. No one should feel alone in their new parenting journey and access to help is available 24/7."

Full text of the bill can be found HERE.