S 2858119th CongressIn Committee

SHINE for Autumn Act of 2025

Introduced: Sep 18, 2025

Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ] (D-New Jersey)

Healthcare

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

This bill aims to enhance federal efforts to understand, prevent, and respond to stillbirths (fetal deaths occurring at 20 weeks of pregnancy or later) in the United States. It establishes comprehensive research programs, improves data collection systems, and creates support mechanisms for affected families. The legislation recognizes stillbirth as a significant public health issue affecting approximately 24,000 families annually and seeks to address gaps in research, data quality, and family support services. By coordinating federal agencies and standardizing data collection, the bill intends to identify risk factors, reduce stillbirth rates, and provide better resources for grieving families.

Key Points

1Establishes a National Stillbirth Research Program at the National Institutes of Health to conduct and support research on stillbirth causes, prevention strategies, and risk factors, with particular attention to health disparities
2Creates the Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention and Research Program within HRSA to award grants for surveillance, prevention activities, and support services for affected families
3Mandates improved data collection by requiring the CDC to enhance the National Vital Statistics System and develop standardized protocols for collecting comprehensive stillbirth data
4Requires federal reporting including a Government Accountability Office study on stillbirth research gaps and annual CDC reports on stillbirth rates, trends, and disparities
5Authorizes $12 million annually (fiscal years 2025-2029) for the HRSA grant program to support state and community-level stillbirth prevention efforts

Impact Areas

Affected Families: Families experiencing stillbirth will benefit from improved support services, counseling, and information resourcesHealthcare Providers: Medical professionals will gain access to better data, research findings, and evidence-based practices for stillbirth prevention and family supportPublic Health Agencies: State and local health departments will receive funding and technical assistance to improve stillbirth surveillance and prevention programsResearchers: Scientists studying maternal and fetal health will have enhanced data sources and coordinated research infrastructure to advance understanding of stillbirth causes and prevention

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