WASHINGTON, D.C. — Representatives Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) and Don Bacon (R-NE) introduced the Maintaining Our Obligation to Moms (MOMS) who Serve Act on Thursday. This groundbreaking legislation aims to establish a pilot program dedicated to assessing the feasibility and impact of evidence-based perinatal mental health programs for pregnant and postpartum service members.
The proposed act addresses a critical aspect of military readiness, seeking to reduce rates of poor mental health conditions among military mothers. This issue has far-reaching implications, not only for the affected individuals and their families but also for the broader military community and national security.
Houlahan, who gave birth to her first child while serving in the Air Force, emphasized the importance of mental health resources for service members. “We cannot expect our men and women in uniform to be ready to defend our country if we are not providing them with mental health resources, which must include perinatal and postpartum care,” she said.
Bacon, Chair of the Quality-of-Life Panel on the House Armed Services Committee, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the alarming statistic that nearly one-third of postpartum service members or their spouses experience a maternal mental health condition. This situation puts them at increased risk for suicide or drug overdoses, making it a matter of utmost urgency.
The MOMS who Serve Act is a response to a disturbing disparity revealed in a report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The report found that while 1 in 5 civilian women experience maternal mental health conditions, the figure rises dramatically to 1 in 3 among service members. This disparity underscores the urgent need for targeted, evidence-based interventions to support the mental health of military mothers.
The proposed legislation seeks to implement such interventions, using an evidence-based approach to tackle what is almost double the national average rate of maternal mental health conditions among service members. By doing so, it aims to improve military readiness and save lives.
The MOMS who Serve Act builds on Houlahan’s earlier efforts in the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Her bill, the Military Moms Matter Act, expanded access to postpartum care in Military Treatment Facilities, encompassing mental health assessments, pelvic health evaluation and treatment, physical therapy considerations, pelvic health rehabilitation services, and obstetric hemorrhage treatment.
Endorsed by the Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance, the National Military Families Association, and the Military Officers Association of America, the MOMS who Serve Act represents a significant step forward in addressing the overlooked issue of maternal mental health within the military.
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