PREEMIE Reauthorization Act of 2025
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
In CommitteeMs. Kelly of Illinois (for herself, Mrs. Miller-Meeks, Mrs. Fletcher, …
Summary
What This Bill Does
The PREEMIE Reauthorization Act of 2025 extends funding authorization for the federal Prematurity Research Expansion and Education for Mothers who deliver Infants Early (PREEMIE) Act through fiscal year 2029. More importantly, it strengthens requirements for the Department of Health and Human Services by changing optional language to mandatory deadlines: HHS must establish an Advisory Committee on premature births within 18 months and must contract with the National Academies to conduct a comprehensive study on premature births, with results due to Congress within 24 months.
Who Benefits and How
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine will receive a federal contract to conduct the study, providing direct revenue through a government procurement. Maternal health researchers and institutions focused on premature birth prevention will benefit from continued federal funding authorization through 2029, ensuring their research programs can continue operations. Medical research institutions studying neonatal care, NICU practices, and interventions for at-risk pregnancies will also gain from the sustained research focus and funding.
Who Bears the Burden and How
The Department of Health and Human Services faces increased administrative and compliance burdens, as they must now establish an Advisory Committee within 18 months (previously this was optional) and manage the National Academies contract with strict reporting deadlines. Federal taxpayers will bear the costs of continued appropriations for fiscal years 2025 through 2029, though the bill does not specify exact dollar amounts. The National Academies themselves face the burden of completing a comprehensive study covering financial costs of premature births, risk factors, detection opportunities, research strategies, state best practices, and precision medicine approaches—all within a tight 24-month timeframe.
Key Provisions
- Extends PREEMIE Act authorization from fiscal years 2019-2023 to fiscal years 2025-2029
- Changes HHS Advisory Committee establishment from "may establish" to "shall establish" with an 18-month deadline after enactment
- Mandates HHS contract with National Academies to study premature births in the United States, with committee convened within 30 days and final report due within 24 months
- Requires comprehensive study covering: financial costs to society and families (including NICU stays and post-discharge expenses), factors impacting preterm birth rates, opportunities for early detection of risk factors, targeted research strategies for interventions, state best practices, and precision medicine approaches
- Makes technical correction to the PREEMIE Reauthorization Act of 2018 (correcting section numbering)
Evidence Chain:
This summary is derived from the structured analysis below. See "Detailed Analysis" for per-title beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
Primary Purpose
Reauthorizes the PREEMIE Act through fiscal year 2029 and mandates a National Academies study on premature births with specific timelines and reporting requirements.
Policy Domains
Legislative Strategy
"Extend and strengthen existing maternal health research infrastructure by (1) extending funding authorization, (2) converting permissive language to mandatory requirements, and (3) adding rigorous study requirements through National Academies"
Likely Beneficiaries
- National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (receives contract for study)
- Maternal health researchers (continued funding for PREEMIE programs)
- Public health agencies (HHS receives directive to establish Advisory Committee)
- Medical research institutions studying premature birth
- Families affected by premature births (potential for improved interventions)
Likely Burden Bearers
- HHS/federal government (must fund study, establish Advisory Committee, comply with deadlines)
- National Academies (must complete comprehensive study within 24 months)
- Federal taxpayers (funding appropriations for fiscal years 2025-2029)
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of Health and Human Services
- "the_national_academies"
- → National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Key Definitions
Terms defined in this bill
Prematurity Research Expansion and Education for Mothers who deliver Infants Early Act (42 U.S.C. 247b-4f)
Financial costs including NICU stays, factors impacting preterm birth rates, opportunities for earlier detection of risk factors, targeted research strategies, State best practices, and precision medicine approaches
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology