Healthy Start Reauthorization Act of 2025

Last action on Oct 3, 2025Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 284.

Summary

H.R. 3302 would reauthorize the Healthy Start Initiative, a federal program designed to reduce infant mortality and improve maternal and child health outcomes. If enacted, the bill would authorize $145 million annually from 2026 through 2030 for the program. Currently, there are 115 federally-funded Healthy Start projects operating in 37 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

The Healthy Start Initiative supports community-based programs that provide comprehensive services to pregnant women, infants, and families in areas with high rates of infant mortality. These services include prenatal care, infant health support, family support services, and health education. By reauthorizing and providing consistent funding for five years, the bill would ensure continued support for these critical maternal and child health services across the United States.

The bill has been approved by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and is now eligible for a floor vote in the full House. If passed by both chambers and signed by the President, it would extend the program's authorization through fiscal year 2030.

Lifecycle of the Bill

HearingHouseHearing

Jul 9, 2025 · 14:15

Legislative Proposals to Maintain and Improve the Public Health Workforce, Rural Health, and Over-the-Counter Medicines

Committee

Health

View full hearing

Summary

The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on July 16, 2025, to examine eight legislative proposals addressing public health workforce development, rural health care access, and over-the-counter medicines. The bills included H.R. 3419 to reauthorize telehealth networks and resource centers, H.R. 2493 on rural health care, H.R. 2821 on FDA modernization, H.R. 3686 on sunscreen standards, H.R. 4273 on over-the-counter drug user fees, H.R. 3302 on Healthy Start reauthorization, and bills reauthorizing Title VII and Title VIII workforce training programs, as well as the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Reauthorization Act. Testifying before the subcommittee were federal officials including Jacqueline Corrigan-Curay, M.D., acting director for the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research at the Food and Drug Administration, Candice Chen, M.D., MPH, acting associate administrator for the Bureau of Health Workforce at the Health Resources and Services Administration, and Tom Morris, associate administrator for rural health policy at HRSA. The hearing focused on reauthorizing key workforce programs and expanding access to health care services in underserved areas. The legislation aimed to strengthen the public health workforce through education and training programs, expand telehealth infrastructure and access to rural communities, and modernize FDA oversight of over-the-counter medicines. A hearing does not guarantee that any of these bills will advance to a vote; the committee must decide whether to move forward with the legislation.

HearingHouseHearing3 witnesses

Jul 16, 2025 · 10:00

Legislative Proposals to Maintain and Improve the Public Health Workforce, Rural Health, and Over-the-Counter Medicines

Committee

Health

View full hearing

Summary

On July 16, 2025, the House Health Committee held a hearing to discuss seven legislative proposals aimed at bolstering the nation's public health infrastructure. The bills under consideration, including the Improving Care in Rural America Reauthorization Act and the FDA Modernization Act 3.0, focus on expanding telehealth services, reauthorizing the Healthy Start program, and updating the user fee system for over-the-counter drugs. Other measures addressed the inclusion of new roles in the Public Health Service Act and the establishment of safety standards for sunscreens. Witnesses from the Health Resources and Services Administration and the Food and Drug Administration provided testimony on the practical impacts of these policies. Dr. Candice Chen and Mr. Tom Morris highlighted the critical need for workforce development and telehealth expansion to address healthcare shortages in rural communities. Dr. Jacqueline Corrigan-Curay discussed the regulatory framework for over-the-counter medications and the importance of modernizing drug review processes to ensure consumer safety and access to innovative products. The discussion centered on the challenges of maintaining a robust healthcare workforce and the necessity of federal support for maternal and child health programs. Members of the committee and witnesses explored how these bills could streamline FDA approvals and improve health outcomes in underserved areas. While the hearing provided a platform for expert testimony and legislative oversight, it represents only an initial step in the lawmaking process; the committee must still vote on whether to advance these bills to the full House of Representatives.

Witnesses(3)

Name	Position	Organization
Dr. Candice ChenU.S. Health Resources and Services Administration	Acting Associate Administrator for Health Workforce	U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration
Dr. Jacqueline Corrigan-CurayU.S. Food and Drug Administration	Acting Director for Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER)	U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Mr. Tom MorrisU.S. Health Resources and Services Administration	Associate Administrator for Rural Health Policy	U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Sep 10, 2025

Subcommittee Hearings Held

Sep 10, 2025

Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.

Sep 10, 2025

HearingHouseMarkup

Sep 10, 2025 · 14:15

Subcommittee Markup of Seven Bills

Committee

Health

View full hearing

Summary

On September 10, 2025, the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee held a markup of seven public health reauthorization bills. The bills addressed critical areas of the nation's health infrastructure, including health professions education (H.R. 4262), nursing workforce development (H.R. 3593), rural health care access (H.R. 2493), telehealth services (H.R. 3419), newborn screening programs (H.R. 4709), healthy start initiatives for pregnant women and infants (H.R. 3302), and leave benefits for Public Health Service officers (H.R. 2846). The markup represented a pivotal step toward securing reauthorization of essential public health programs before their expiration at the end of the fiscal year. Many of these bills had been discussed in an earlier legislative hearing on July 9, 2025, where expert testimony informed the subcommittee's understanding of their impact on communities and health systems. Chairman Morgan Griffith emphasized the importance of reauthorizing Title VII and Title VIII programs, which support the nation's health care workforce. The bills were considered non-controversial and expected to advance to the full committee for further consideration. Several bills advanced by voice vote, including the Healthy Start Reauthorization Act, the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Reauthorization Act, and the measure addressing Public Health Service officer benefits. A markup hearing does not guarantee that bills will become law; they must still be voted on by the full committee and then by the House before advancing further in the legislative process.

Video

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

Sep 17, 2025

Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 49 - 0.

Sep 17, 2025

HearingHouseMarkup

Sep 17, 2025 · 14:00

Markup of Seven Bills

Committee

House Committee on Energy and Commerce

View full hearing

Summary

The House Committee on Energy and Commerce held a markup on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at 10 a.m. (EDT) in the John D. Dingell Room, 2123 Rayburn House Office Building, to consider seven bills addressing healthcare access and communications infrastructure. H.R. 3419 would amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize the telehealth network and telehealth resource centers grant programs. The bill reauthorizes programs administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration that aim to improve access to telehealth services by providing technical assistance and other support methods to providers in rural and frontier communities. H.R. 979, the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, requires the Department of Transportation to issue a rule requiring AM radio capabilities to be standard in all new passenger vehicles. H.R. 2493 would reauthorize the appropriation of $80 million each year from 2026 through 2030 for the Health Resources and Services Administration to expand delivery of health care services in rural areas, implement integrated health care networks in rural areas, and engage in activities to improve the quality of small rural health care providers. H.R. 2846 would amend title II of the Public Health Service Act to include as an additional right or privilege of commissioned officers of the Public Health Service certain leave provided to commissioned officers of the Army. H.R. 1262, the Give Kids a Chance Act, and H.R. 1843 would amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to increase transparency in generic drug applications. H.R. 3302 is the Healthy Start Reauthorization Act of 2025. H.R. 3419 was reported to the full House by a roll call vote of 48 yeas – 0 nays. H.R. 979, the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025, was reported to the full House, as amended, by a roll call vote of 50 yeas – 1 nay. H.R. 2493, Improving Care in Rural America Reauthorization Act of 2025, was reported to the full House by a roll call vote of 49 yeas – 0 nays. The markup advanced these bills for further consideration by the full House, though passage through the committee does not guarantee they will become law.

Video

Reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 119-331.

Oct 3, 2025

Reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 119-331.

Oct 3, 2025

Name

Position

Links

Dr. Candice ChenU.S. Health Resources and Services Administration

Acting Associate Administrator for Health Workforce

Dr. Jacqueline Corrigan-CurayU.S. Food and Drug Administration

Acting Director for Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER)

Mr. Tom MorrisU.S. Health Resources and Services Administration

Associate Administrator for Rural Health Policy

Healthy Start Reauthorization Act of 2025

Summary

Lifecycle of the Bill

Legislative Proposals to Maintain and Improve the Public Health Workforce, Rural Health, and Over-the-Counter Medicines

Committee

Summary

Legislative Proposals to Maintain and Improve the Public Health Workforce, Rural Health, and Over-the-Counter Medicines

Committee

Summary

Witnesses(3)

Subcommittee Markup of Seven Bills

Committee

Summary

Video

Markup of Seven Bills

Committee

Summary

Video

Legislative Proposals to Maintain and Improve the Public Health Workforce, Rural Health, and Over-the-Counter Medicines

Committee

Summary

Legislative Proposals to Maintain and Improve the Public Health Workforce, Rural Health, and Over-the-Counter Medicines

Committee

Summary

Witnesses(3)

Subcommittee Markup of Seven Bills

Committee

Summary

Video

Markup of Seven Bills

Committee

Summary

Video

Cosponsors (3)

House Committee on Energy and Commerce

CBO Cost Estimate

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Healthy Start Reauthorization Act of 2025

Summary

Lifecycle of the Bill

Legislative Proposals to Maintain and Improve the Public Health Workforce, Rural Health, and Over-the-Counter Medicines

Committee

Summary

Legislative Proposals to Maintain and Improve the Public Health Workforce, Rural Health, and Over-the-Counter Medicines

Committee

Summary

Witnesses(3)

Subcommittee Markup of Seven Bills

Committee

Summary

Video

Markup of Seven Bills

Committee

Summary

Video

Lifecycle of the Bill

Legislative Proposals to Maintain and Improve the Public Health Workforce, Rural Health, and Over-the-Counter Medicines

Committee

Summary

Legislative Proposals to Maintain and Improve the Public Health Workforce, Rural Health, and Over-the-Counter Medicines

Committee

Summary

Witnesses(3)

Subcommittee Markup of Seven Bills

Committee

Summary

Video

Markup of Seven Bills

Committee

Summary

Video

Bill Information

Sponsors & Co-sponsors (4)

Cosponsors (3)

Policy Area

Legislative Subjects (6)

Committees (1)

House Committee on Energy and Commerce

CBO Cost Estimate

CBO Cost Estimate