Bipartisan bill would study maternal health-violence link

Source: Roll Call

Posted April 27, 2026 at 4:31pm


A bipartisan pair of senators on Monday introduced legislation that would support research into the link between intimate partner violence and maternal deaths and illness.

The legislation by Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, would direct the Health and Human Services Department to support research on how domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking, child sexual abuse, forced marriage and other forms of abuse impact the risk for death or serious complications during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

Shaheen introduced a similar bill in 2021, but this will be the first time the legislation will have a Republican co-sponsor in the Senate. It arrives at a time when spending on research into women’s health issues at the federal level is being curtailed, advocates say. “It’s unacceptable that research linking maternal and child health outcomes to the physical and mental trauma of intimate partner violence is still lacking despite the alarming prevalence of sexual assault among pregnant women and the danger posed to mom and baby alike,” Shaheen said in a statement.

A House version is planned by Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Wis. The research would examine how these issues increase the risk of suicide, homicide, substance abuse, drug overdose or poor health outcomes in pregnant and postpartum women.

Read more: https://rollcall.com/2026/04/27/bipartisan-bill-would-study-maternal-health-violence-link/