Care for Life Act
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (8 Dec 2016): Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
What this bill does
The Care for Life Act (H.R. 6503) would direct federal agencies to expand information and support services for pregnant and parenting women. It would require the Department of Health and Human Services to create a public database, called the Pregnant and Parenting Women's Care Information Service, listing providers of pregnancy and parenting support services such as material assistance, counseling, adoption referrals, child care, and legal aid. It also establishes a toll-free referral hotline, authorizes competitive grants to service providers and academic medical centers, and bars federal funding to agencies or governments that penalize health care entities for declining to provide, pay for, or refer for abortions. The Department of Labor would be tasked with publicizing employer practices that support pregnant or parenting workers, such as flexible schedules or lactation rooms.
The bill also addresses higher education: it expresses a sense of Congress that the Department of Education should fund a competitive grant program helping colleges support pregnant and parenting students, and it amends the Higher Education Act to authorize development of an online toolkit connecting students to child care, housing, financial aid, nutrition programs, and related resources. The bill primarily affects pregnant women, new parents, health care and educational institutions, and federal agencies administering related programs.
The bill was introduced on December 8, 2016, in the 114th Congress and referred to the House Committees on Energy and Commerce and Education and the Workforce. It did not receive a vote before the end of that Congress, meaning it did not become law and would need to be reintroduced in a later Congress to be considered again.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Care for Life Act
This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop and maintain the Pregnant and Parenting Women's Care Information Service database. This database must provide pregnant women and new parents with information on public and private service providers that help such women and parents in alleviating the physical, financial, social, and emotional difficulties encountered during or after pregnancy.
HHS may award grants to: (1) providers to develop best practices for communities to identify optimal ways to provide pregnancy and parenting support services, and (2) academic medical centers to provide specialized training in pregnancy and parenting support services.
The Department of Labor must recognize and publicize the practices of employers who successfully meet the needs of their pregnant or parenting employees.
The grant program of the Department of Education to improve postsecondary education opportunities is expanded to include funding for the development of an online information toolkit about agencies that are working within institutions of higher education to provide pregnancy and child care services for students.
Timeline
8 Dec 2016
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Common questions
- What does H.R. 6503 do?
- The Care for Life Act (H.R. 6503) would direct federal agencies to expand information and support services for pregnant and parenting women. It would require the Department of Health and Human Services to create a public database, called the Pregnant and Parenting Women's Care Information Service, listing providers of pregnancy and parenting support services such as material assistance, counseling, adoption referrals, child care, and legal aid. It also establishes a toll-free referral hotline, authorizes competitive grants to service providers and academic medical centers, and bars federal funding to agencies or governments that penalize health care entities for declining to provide, pay for, or refer for abortions. The Department of Labor would be tasked with publicizing employer practices that support pregnant or parenting workers, such as flexible schedules or lactation rooms. The bill also addresses higher education: it expresses a sense of Congress that the Department of Education should fund a competitive grant program helping colleges support pregnant and parenting students, and it amends the Higher Education Act to authorize development of an online toolkit connecting students to child care, housing, financial aid, nutrition programs, and related resources. The bill primarily affects pregnant women, new parents, health care and educational institutions, and federal agencies administering related programs. The bill was introduced on December 8, 2016, in the 114th Congress and referred to the House Committees on Energy and Commerce and Education and the Workforce. It did not receive a vote before the end of that Congress, meaning it did not become law and would need to be reintroduced in a later Congress to be considered again.
- Has H.R. 6503 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for H.R. 6503. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored H.R. 6503?
- H.R. 6503 was sponsored by Rep. Fortenberry, Jeff [R-NE-1] (R-NE), with 0 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on H.R. 6503?
- Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. (8 Dec 2016).
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