Quick answer: The Community Access, Resources, and Empowerment (CARE) for Moms Act is a federal bill introduced by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) on September 24, 2026, with companion House legislation from Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL-02). It aims to reduce maternal deaths and complications by expanding postpartum Medicaid coverage, growing the doula workforce, extending WIC benefits for postpartum and breastfeeding women, and more. The bill does not mention donor milk by name, but maternal health and infant feeding are closely linked, and that is where milk banks come in.

Why are lawmakers focused on maternal health?

According to Sen. Durbin’s office and March of Dimes:

• The U.S. had 18.6 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023, the highest rate of any wealthy nation and nearly double that of peer countries.
• Black women are three times more likely to die as a result of pregnancy.
• The U.S. ranks 32nd out of the 38 wealthiest nations for infant mortality.
• About 5.8 million women and 358,000 infants live in counties without full access to maternity care.

What would the CARE for Moms Act do?

According to the Senate press release, the bill would:

• Create a State-Based Perinatal Quality Collaborative Grant Program
• Establish Regional Centers of Excellence to address implicit bias and promote cultural competence among health professionals
• Support federal efforts to grow and diversify the doula workforce
• Extend Medicaid coverage for postpartum mothers in all 50 states
• Fund Rural Obstetric Mobile Units
• Require 90 days’ notice to HHS before a hospital closes its obstetric unit
• Extend Medicaid and CHIP oral health coverage to pregnant and postpartum women
• Extend WIC benefits for postpartum and breastfeeding women for two years
• Require HHS to report on federal funding for maternal health needs

How does maternal health connect to milk banking?

The bill does not name donor milk or milk banks. Still, the health of a new parent and the way a baby is fed are tied together in several ways:

• Postpartum nutrition support. WIC provides nutrition assistance and breastfeeding support to new families, and the bill would extend those benefits for postpartum and breastfeeding women.
• Doulas and postpartum care. Doulas and postpartum care teams can be among the first people new parents turn to with feeding questions.
• Access to care. Maternity care deserts and obstetric unit closures can mean longer drives and fewer resources, including lactation support, for new families.
• When a mother’s own milk is not available. Prematurity, birth complications, or critical illness can make it hard to provide a parent’s own milk. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends pasteurized donor human milk for premature babies when mother’s own milk is unavailable.
• Pregnancy and infant loss. Milk Bank WGL supports families who donate milk after loss. Each October, we mark Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day with the Wave of Light and an annual film screening hosted by our Pregnancy and Infant Loss (PAIL) Subcommittee.

What is donor milk, and who needs it?

Pasteurized donor human milk is milk given by screened, healthy lactating parents, then tested, pasteurized, and dispensed by a nonprofit milk bank. It is used mainly for premature and critically ill babies in hospital NICUs and postpartum units, and for some babies at home with medical needs. Milk bank experts note that donor milk can help protect premature infants from necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a serious intestinal disease.

Donor milk does not replace maternal health care or a parent’s own milk. Always talk with your baby’s pediatrician about feeding decisions.

How does Milk Bank WGL work?

Mothers’ Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes is a nonprofit in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, that has been collecting, pasteurizing, and dispensing donor human milk since 2015.

1. Apply. Healthy, lactating parents apply to donate. The application process typically takes about two weeks.
2. Get screened. Every donor completes a phone interview and a blood draw before donating.
3. Drop off milk. Bring milk to our Elk Grove Village location or a partner depot, including sites in Wisconsin.
4. Test and pasteurize. We test the milk, pasteurize it to eliminate viruses and bacteria, and pool it.
5. Dispense. Pasteurized donor milk goes to hospitals in Illinois and Wisconsin and to outpatient families.

How can you get involved?

• Donate milk: Learn about donor eligibility and apply at milkbankwgl.org. milkbankwgl.org/donate-milk/
• Order donor milk: Hospitals are our primary partners. Families who want donor milk at home can ask their doctor for a prescription or contact us. Reduced-cost or free milk may be available for some children, and insurance may cover it in some cases, though coverage is not guaranteed. milkbankwgl.org/receive-milk/
• Support our work: Gifts help us screen, pasteurize, and distribute milk and fund charity care.
• Follow the bill: Track the CARE for Moms Act’s progress on Congress.gov.

Frequently asked questions

What is the CARE for Moms Act? It is a federal bill introduced by Sen. Dick Durbin and Rep. Robin Kelly to address maternal mortality and morbidity through postpartum coverage, workforce support, access to care, and extended WIC benefits.

Has the CARE for Moms Act become law? No. Introduction is only the first step. A bill must move through committee and pass both the House and Senate before the President can sign it. Check Congress.gov for the latest status.

Does the CARE for Moms Act fund milk banks or donor milk? No provision in the Senate press release names donor milk or milk banks. The bill’s focus is maternal health care, though it would extend WIC benefits for postpartum and breastfeeding women.

What does a milk bank do? A milk bank collects milk from screened donors, tests and pasteurizes it, and dispenses it to babies who need it, mainly premature and critically ill infants in hospitals.

Who can donate breast milk to Milk Bank WGL? Healthy, lactating parents who pass our screening, including a phone interview and a blood draw, can donate. You can also donate after pregnancy or infant loss.

How do I get donor milk for my baby? Most donor milk goes to hospitals. For home use, ask your pediatrician for a prescription or contact Milk Bank WGL at (847) 262-5134, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where is Milk Bank WGL located? 560 Bonnie Lane, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007. We serve hospitals and families in Illinois and Wisconsin.

Sources

• Durbin Introduces CARE For Moms Act To Address Maternal Mortality (Sept. 24, 2026)
• Rep. Robin Kelly, Senator Durbin Introduce the CARE For Moms Act

Milk Bank WGL shares this post for educational purposes. It is not medical, legal, or policy advice, and discussing legislation is not an endorsement.