Congresswoman Claudia Tenney Introduces Care for Her Act with House Colleagues

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-22) joins nine of her House Colleagues to introduce the Care for Her Act, which establishes a new community-based approach to care for expecting mothers and their children.

The Care for Her Act (HR 5163) would provide a child tax credit for the pre-born and identify existing pregnancy and parenting support services for families. It would also provide an assessment of gaps that exist in current support services. The bill also includes grants for maternity housing, mentorship programs, and job-training programs for expecting women, and performance incentives for communities that demonstrate improved maternal and child outcomes.

“The Care for Her Act creates and expands resources for pregnant women and delivers greater peace of mind to expecting mothers, especially those who face unexpected pregnancy,” Congresswoman Tenney said. “This innovative new community-based approach includes policies like a pre-born child tax credit, educational resources, housing grants, and improvements to healthcare that will help new and expecting mothers. It is so important that we invest in families and properly care for those beginning the rewarding journey of motherhood. I’m honored to join with Congressman Fortenberry to introduce this legislation.”

Congressman Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska is the bill’s lead sponsor.

“I am pleased that so many of my colleagues are joining with me to say we should be big enough and generous enough to care for a woman and her child who need help in times of vulnerability. This is our chance to support a woman with an unexpected pregnancy all the way through birth and child-rearing.  Care for Her establishes a community of care for the journey of life,” Congressman Jeff Fortenberry (NE-01) said.  

“Care for Her ensures women know what services and support are available to them, including maternity housing, mentorship, and job training. It provides a tax credit to the pregnant mother with a pre-born child. And it provides performance incentives for communities that demonstrate improved maternal and child health outcomes,” Fortenberry added. 

Joining Tenney and Fortenberry in introducing the legislation are Reps. Liz Cheney, Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon, Young Kim, Nicole Malliotakis, Blake Moore, Maria Elvira Salazar, Elise Stefanik, and Ann Wagner. 

The Care for Her Act has been endorsed by the Susan B. Anthony List, Concerned Women for America, Feminists for Life, and New Wave Feminists.

Full text of the legislation can be read here.

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