New Legislation Proposed to Boost Newborn Screenings
The proposed federal act would grant states $35 million annually to help implement newborn health screening recommendations.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Babies
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Should the federal government provide annual funding to help states expand newborn health screenings?
Representatives Nick Langworthy and Kim Schrier have introduced the Surge to Save Newborns Act. This legislation would provide $35 million in annual grant funding for five years to help states implement critical federal newborn health screening recommendations.
Why it matters
Many states currently lack the necessary resources to adopt every test on the federal recommended screening panel. Providing this federal support helps ensure infants can be screened for serious conditions that allow for earlier medical intervention.
The proposed bill authorizes $35 million annually for state newborn screening programs between the 2027 and 2031 fiscal years. This funding aims to assist states in adopting tests like the one for Krabbe disease, which received final federal approval for recommendation in July 2024.
The players
Nick Langworthy
U.S. Representative who introduced the legislation to support expanded newborn health testing.
Kim Schrier
U.S. Representative who co-sponsored the bill to assist states in adopting federal screening recommendations.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
The federal agency responsible for overseeing public health standards and administering the proposed grant program.
The details
States can secure grant funding by submitting application plans to the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services detailing their screening implementation strategies. The program also mandates that participating entities provide annual reports to Congress to track how effectively these funds improve screening coverage and infant outcomes. This mechanism seeks to bridge the gap between federal advisory committee recommendations and actual laboratory testing availability at the state level.
Timeline
January 2024: Federal advisory committee members voted to add Krabbe disease to the recommended screening panel.
July 2024: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services granted final approval for Krabbe disease screening.
September 19, 2026: Representative Nick Langworthy introduced the Surge to Save Newborns Act.
The Home Front
The Surge to Save Newborns Act addresses the gap between federal health recommendations and the practical resources available to state laboratories. This development follows a pattern of increasing legislative focus on standardizing infant diagnostic testing across state lines.
Parents can review their state's current newborn screening requirements by visiting their local Department of Health website. Keep these records organized in your family's medical file to ensure pediatricians have a full history of your child's initial health screenings.
The takeaway
This act aims to standardize the availability of life-saving medical screenings for newborns nationwide. Keep track of your child's initial state-mandated health screening results as part of your permanent family medical records.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in infant health in the Babies section.
Live Poll
Should the federal government provide annual funding to help states expand newborn health screenings?
