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Motion to suspend rules for $10M birthing-hospital fund fails; maternal-health proposal not considered
Summary
A motion to suspend the rules to immediately consider amendment H8466—a proposed $10 million birthing hospital fund for hospitals that closed labor-and-delivery units—failed on a recorded vote, leaving the proposal unconsidered on the House floor.
Clerk called up amendment H8466 (author named in the clerk’s call). The author from Story argued Iowa faces a maternal-health crisis—citing county-level access gaps and closures of labor-and-delivery units—and proposed recreating a birthing hospital fund with $10,000,000 to help reopen units that closed within the past five years.
Representative Meyer responded that the budget already invests in residency and workforce development (including startup grants for medical residencies) and questioned whether a building fund is the most effective, germane way to increase access. The author moved to suspend the rules to consider the amendment immediately and requested a recorded division.
The roll-call on the motion to suspend the rules recorded 25 ayes, 58 noes and 17 absent/not voting; the motion failed and the amendment was not considered on the floor. Debate on the motion focused on workforce development versus capital support for hospitals; no further action on the proposed birthing-hospital fund was reported in the transcript.
