Bread for the World Endorses Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Act

Washington, D.C., October 16, 2026 — Bread for the World issued the following statement regarding its endorsement of H.R. 9583, the Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Act of 2026, bipartisan legislation introduced by Rep. Young Kim (R-CA), with Reps. Dina Titus (D-NV) and Mike Lawler (R-NY) as the bill’s original co-sponsors. The statement can be attributed to Rev. Heather Taylor, Interim President and CEO of Bread for the World.

“Bread for the World endorses the Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Act. Investing in the health and nutrition of mothers and children around the world is an investment in stronger families, thriving communities, and greater global stability.”

“An estimated 260,000 women around the world died from complications of pregnancy and childbirth in 2023, according to the World Health Organization, and most of those deaths could have been prevented. Hunger and malnutrition put mothers and children at additional risk, especially in the 1,000 days between a woman’s pregnancy and her child’s second birthday. The Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Act puts proven solutions within reach of more families, and that is central to Bread for the World’s commitment to reducing hunger, malnutrition, and preventable deaths among the world’s most vulnerable people.

“The bill takes a targeted approach to expanding access to interventions that make a measurable difference, including Multiple Micronutrient Supplement (MMS) prenatal vitamins, skilled birth attendants, treatment for common infections, and malnutrition screening and treatment. By focusing resources on solutions that address preventable maternal and child mortality, this legislation can help more families build healthy futures.“Every mother and every child is made in the image of God and deserves access to the nutrition and health care they need to survive and flourish. With this in mind, the U.S. has an opportunity to lead by making the health and nutrition of mothers and children a priority. We therefore urge Congress to advance the Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Act and ensure that women and children around the world thrive.