Washington D.C. – U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.), a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, has successfully secured a $20 million increase in funding for the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) Implementing a Maternal Health and Pregnancy Outcomes Vision for Everyone (IMPROVE) Initiative. The funding boost is included in the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, bringing the total allocation for the NIH IMPROVE Initiative to $73.4 million.
The NIH IMPROVE Initiative focuses on researching and addressing preventable causes of maternal deaths and enhancing maternal health care before, during, and after pregnancy. With Alabama experiencing one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the nation, Senator Britt emphasized the importance of this funding, particularly in addressing disparities that disproportionately affect Black women.
“Alabama has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the nation. This disproportionately affects Black women,” said Senator Britt. “In 2024, it should not be like this. I was proud to advance a $20 million increase for the NIH IMPROVE Initiative for Fiscal Year 2025. These funds would help support critical research on reducing maternal mortality and improving maternal care. I’ll continue to make this a top priority.”
In addition to securing this funding, Senator Britt, alongside Senator Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), has introduced the NIH IMPROVE Act. This bipartisan legislation aims to ensure consistent funding for the NIH IMPROVE Initiative, supporting ongoing research into maternal mortality and improving health outcomes for women.
The FY25 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, which includes the increased funding for the NIH IMPROVE Initiative, is now awaiting consideration by the full Senate.
Senator Britt has made health care, including rural and maternal care, a key focus during her first 19 months in office. In collaboration with other senators, she has introduced and supported several pieces of bipartisan legislation aimed at improving access to health care in rural areas, expanding maternal care, and addressing the cost of essential medications like insulin.
Notably, Senator Britt co-introduced the Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act, which aims to expand access to maternal care in rural areas by supporting local health care facilities and providers. Additionally, she reintroduced the Access to Breast Cancer Diagnosis (ABCD) Act, which seeks to eliminate out-of-pocket expenses for breast cancer diagnostic tests.
Senator Britt’s efforts also extend to telehealth services, as demonstrated by her support for the CONNECT for Health Act of 2023, which seeks to expand Medicare coverage for telehealth and make permanent certain flexibilities introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
As the FY25 appropriations process continues, Senator Britt has stated she remains committed to advancing legislation that addresses critical health care needs for Alabamians and Americans nationwide.
