The First Legislation Addressing Military Mothers’ Mental Health Included in Final National Defense Bill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Washington, D.C., December 18, 2024) Today, our nation celebrates landmark legislation that supports the mental health and wellbeing of our nation’s military mothers.

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) — one of the largest pieces of legislation orchestrated by the federal government — includes a new program to address the mental health of active duty service members and their spouses during and following pregnancy. 

The legislation calls for establishing a standing program in the military health care system that will provide resources to prevent and treat maternal mental health conditions and raise awareness of these resources among military service members and their families. 

This legislation is based on The Maintaining our Obligation to Moms who Serve Act (The MOMS Act), a bipartisan, bicameral policy championed by Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance (MMHLA). The MOMS Act was introduced in January 2024 by Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA-6) and Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) with co-sponsors Representative Don Bacon (R-NE-2) and Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE). 

According to the Government Accountability Office, approximately 100,000 military mothers (both active duty and spouses) give birth each year, and one in three are impacted by maternal mental health conditions. This is twice the rate seen in the civilian population. 

“Military mothers face unique challenges and stresses, which increase their risk of experiencing maternal mental health conditions,” says MMHLA’s Executive Director, Adrienne Griffen, a mother and Navy Veteran who knows first-hand the struggles that military mothers experience.  

MMHLA Founder Jamie Zahlaway Belsito adds, “This is an incredible step forward for the health and wellness of our military mothers and their families. We are so grateful to our champions in Congress – Senators Shaheen and Fischer, and Representatives Houlahan and Bacon – as well as the leadership from the Armed Services Committees, especially Senate Chair Jack Reed (D-RI) and House Chair Mike Rogers (R-AL-3).”

“Having given birth to my first daughter while in the Air Force, I know first-hand how pregnancy can take a toll on a mother’s mental health and impact their ability to do their job. For our service women, that includes protecting our national security,” says Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA-6). “We cannot expect our men and women in uniform to be ready to defend our country if we are not providing them with mental health resources, which must include perinatal and postpartum care. I am proud today that my bill, The Maintaining our Obligation to Moms who Serve Act, is included in the FY25 NDAA heading to the President's desk. With this signed into law, we will see the greatest investment in maternal mental health care in the Department of Defense’s history and a recommitment to improve another aspect of our service members' quality of life.” 

Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), who sponsored the Senate version of The MOMS Act, shares “I’m incredibly proud that the bipartisan Maintaining our Obligation to Moms who Serve Act passed the Senate in the annual defense legislation. Too often, the mental health needs of new moms are ignored as they adapt to life with a newborn — and this rings especially true for the brave women serving in our military. The MOMS Act, which will soon become law, will establish perinatal mental health prevention programs and ensure that service women get the support they’ve earned from those most equipped to help.”

"The MOMS Act is one of the more significant provisions in this year's NDAA," says Rep. Bacon, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee Military Quality of Life Panel. "Mental health is essential to the welfare of military mothers and military kids. I am grateful for Rep. Houlahan's tireless leadership on this issue and for the opportunity to work together to deliver results for service members and their families."

“One in five moms experience mental health conditions during the perinatal period — and that rate is even higher among service members and dependents,” says Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE). “The MOMS Act will help determine how we can better support the moms who serve all of us. I’m grateful our bipartisan bill has passed, and I look forward to the progress the Department of Defense will make as a result.”

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For media inquiries, contact MMHLA Senior Communications Manager, Mia Hemstad, at mhemstad@mmhla.org.