Bill Aims to Provide Essential Item Kits for Mothers and Newborns
· Telemundo McAllen (KTLM)
Motherhood changes life forever and can require a significant amount of baby care products ranging from diapers to breastfeeding supplies. Senators Andy Kim, a Democrat from New Jersey, and Lisa Murkowski, a Republican from Alaska, have introduced a bill to provide first-time mothers with welcome kits for newborns in areas with high rates of infant or maternal mortality, according to their offices in an exclusive report to NBC News. The bill would codify a pilot program from the Department of Health and Human Services called the Newborn Essential Support Kit (NEST), launched in 2023, which distributes kits with essential materials to qualifying mothers in 15 states, including Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. Under the pilot program, families receive the kits just before delivery through participating hospitals, health centers, and nonprofit organizations, according to the Department of Health.
AI summary · Source: Telemundo McAllen (KTLM) →
