Perez introduces bill to support pregnant and postpartum women facing substance use disorders
U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Skamania, this week introduced a bill to support pregnant and postpartum women facing substance use disorders.
Perez and U.S. Rep Young Kim, R-CA, announced the Protecting Moms and Infants Reauthorization Act Wednesday, which would reauthorize almost $39 million each year between 2024 and 2028 to support mothers experiencing substance abuse.
“Substance use disorders touch every community, and tragically, moms and expecting mothers are no exception,” Perez said in a press release. “We need to make sure these women have access to the stable housing and treatment they need to get to and stay in recovery, and our bipartisan bill makes that possible.”
The money, which is authorized under the Public Health Service Act, will go toward The Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, which runs a grant program for public and nonprofit organizations that supports pregnant and postpartum women with substance use disorders.
Individual states and health programs can apply for grants, which have an upper limit of $525,000 per year. The Center for Substance Abuse Treatment treats patients in all 50 states.
— Carlos Fuentes
