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S. 1573Senate118th Congress (2023-2025)In Committee

PREEMIE Reauthorization Act of 2023

Sponsored by Michael F. BennetSen. Michael F. Bennet (D-CO)
Introduced May 11, 2023

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 7:24 AM UTC

The PREEMIE Reauthorization Act of 2023 extends and updates the federal program that funds research, education, and support services aimed at reducing premature births and improving outcomes for preterm and low‑birth‑weight infants. It shifts the authorized funding period to fiscal years 2024‑2028, requires the Health and Human Services Secretary to establish an interagency working group within 18 months, and mandates a comprehensive study of premature birth conducted by the National Academies. The bill targets pregnant women, infants born early, health‑care providers, and policymakers who oversee related programs.

Key Provisions

  • Extends the authorized research and education program for preterm labor and low‑birth‑weight infants to fiscal years 2024‑2028.
  • Requires the HHS Secretary, in collaboration with other departments, to create an interagency working group no later than 18 months after enactment.
  • Orders the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to convene a maternal‑health expert panel within 30 days to study premature births and to deliver a consensus report—including cost analyses, factors influencing preterm rates, gaps in public‑health programs, and research strategies—within 24 months to HHS and relevant congressional committees.

Legislative Activity

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4 earlier actions
SenateCalendars Latest Action

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 223.

October 4, 2023

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

May 11, 2023

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

May 11, 2023

SenateCommittee

Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

September 21, 2023

SenateCommittee

Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Sanders with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

October 4, 2023

SenateCalendars

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 223.

October 4, 2023

Bill Text

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Reported to SenateIssued October 4, 2023

II

Calendar No. 223

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 1573

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 11, 2023

Mr. Bennet (for himself, Mr. Boozman, Ms. Stabenow, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Ms. Klobuchar, Mrs. Gillibrand, Ms. Smith, Mr. Young, Mr. Casey, Mr. Braun, Ms. Sinema, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Daines, and Mr. Scott of Florida) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

October 4, 2023

Reported by Mr. Sanders, with an amendment

Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic

A BILL

To reauthorize the Prematurity Research Expansion and Education for Mothers who deliver Infants Early Act.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the PREEMIE Reauthorization Act of 2023.

2.

Research relating to preterm labor and delivery and the care, treatment, and outcomes of preterm and low birthweight infants

(a)

In general

Section 3(e) of the Prematurity Research Expansion and Education for Mothers who deliver Infants Early Act (42 U.S.C. 247b–4f(e)) is amended by striking fiscal years 2019 through 2023 and inserting fiscal years 2024 through 2028.

(b)

Technical correction

Effective as if included in the enactment of the PREEMIE Reauthorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–328; 132 Stat. 4471), section 2 of such Act is amended, in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking Section 2 and inserting Section 3.

3.

Public and health care provider education and support services

Section 399Q of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280g–5) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (b)(1)(D)—

(A)

by redesignating clauses (vi) and (vii) as clauses (vii) and (viii), respectively; and

(B)

by inserting after clause (v) the following:

(vi)

screening for and treatment of chronic conditions;

; and

(2)

in subsection (c), by striking fiscal years 2014 through 2018 and inserting fiscal years 2024 through 2028.

4.

Interagency working group

Section 5(a) of the PREEMIE Reauthorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–328; 132 Stat. 4473) is amended by striking The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in collaboration with other departments, as appropriate, may establish and inserting Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of the PREEMIE Reauthorization Act of 2023, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in collaboration with other departments, as appropriate, shall establish.

5.

Study on preterm births

(a)

In general

The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall enter into appropriate arrangements with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine under which the National Academies shall—

(1)

not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, convene a committee of experts in maternal health to study premature births in the United States; and

(2)

upon completion of the study under paragraph (1)—

(A)

approve by consensus a report on the results of such study;

(B)

include in such report—

(i)

an assessment of each of the topics listed in subsection (b);

(ii)

the analysis required by subsection (c); and

(iii)

the raw data used to develop such report; and

(C)

not later than 24 months after the date of enactment of this Act, transmit such report to—

(i)

the Secretary of Health and Human Services;

(ii)

the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives; and

(iii)

the Committee on Finance and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate.

(b)

Assessment topics

The topics listed in this subsection are of each of the following:

(1)

The financial costs of premature birth to society, including—

(A)

an analysis of stays in neonatal intensive care units and the cost of such stays;

(B)

long-term costs of stays in such units to society and the family involved post-discharge; and

(C)

health care costs for families post-discharge from such units (such as medications, therapeutic services, co-pays visits and specialty equipment).

(2)

The factors that impact pre-term birth rates.

(3)

Gaps in public health programs that have caused increases in premature birth, including—

(A)

gaps in the detection of premature birth risk factors;

(B)

gaps in information from States on pre-term birth; and

(C)

gaps in support and resources for parents provided in-hospital, in non-hospital settings, and post-discharge.

(c)

Analysis

The analysis required by this subsection is an analysis of—

(1)

targeted research strategies to develop effective drugs, treatments, or interventions to bring at-risk pregnancies to term;

(2)

State and other programs’ best practices with respect to reducing premature birth rates;

(3)

opportunities to address developmental origins of health with respect to premature birth rates; and

(4)

precision medicine and preventative care approaches starting early in the life course (including during pregnancy) with a focus on behavioral and biological influences on premature birth, child health, and the trajectory of such approaches into adulthood.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the PREEMIE Reauthorization Act of 2023.

2.

Research relating to preterm labor and delivery and the care, treatment, and outcomes of preterm and low birthweight infants

(a)

In general

Section 3(e) of the Prematurity Research Expansion and Education for Mothers who deliver Infants Early Act (42 U.S.C. 247b–4f(e)) is amended by striking fiscal years 2019 through 2023 and inserting fiscal years 2024 through 2028.

(b)

Technical correction

Effective as if included in the enactment of the PREEMIE Reauthorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–328), section 2 of such Act is amended, in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking Section 2 and inserting Section 3.

3.

Interagency working group

Section 5(a) of the PREEMIE Reauthorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–328) is amended by striking The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in collaboration with other departments, as appropriate, may establish and inserting Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of the PREEMIE Reauthorization Act of 2023, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in collaboration with other departments, as appropriate, shall establish.

4.

Study on preterm births

(a)

In general

The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall enter into appropriate arrangements with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine under which the National Academies shall—

(1)

not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, convene a committee of experts in maternal health to study premature births in the United States; and

(2)

upon completion of the study under paragraph (1)—

(A)

approve by consensus a report on the results of such study;

(B)

include in such report—

(i)

an assessment of each of the topics listed in subsection (b);

(ii)

the analysis required by subsection (c); and

(iii)

the raw data used to develop such report; and

(C)

not later than 24 months after the date of enactment of this Act, transmit such report to—

(i)

the Secretary of Health and Human Services;

(ii)

the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives; and

(iii)

the Committee on Finance and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate.

(b)

Assessment topics

The topics listed in this subsection are each of the following:

(1)

The financial costs of premature birth to society, including—

(A)

an analysis of stays in neonatal intensive care units and the cost of such stays;

(B)

long-term costs of stays in such units to society and the family involved post-discharge; and

(C)

health care costs for families post-discharge from such units (such as medications, therapeutic services, co-payments for visits, and specialty equipment).

(2)

The factors that impact preterm birth rates.

(3)

Opportunities for earlier detection of premature birth risk factors, including—

(A)

opportunities to improve maternal and infant health; and

(B)

opportunities for public health programs to provide support and resources for parents in-hospital, in non-hospital settings, and post-discharge.

(c)

Analysis

The analysis required by this subsection is an analysis of—

(1)

targeted research strategies to develop effective drugs, treatments, or interventions to bring at-risk pregnancies to term;

(2)

State and other programs’ best practices with respect to reducing premature birth rates; and

(3)

precision medicine and preventative care approaches starting early in the life course (including during pregnancy) with a focus on behavioral and biological influences on premature birth, child health, and the trajectory of such approaches into adulthood.

October 4, 2023

Reported with an amendment