S. 3944 · In committee · Health

Women’s Heart Health Expansion Act of 2026

Sponsor: Angela D. Alsobrooks (D-MD)

What it does

• Reauthorizes through fiscal year 2031 and expands the CDC's WISEWOMAN program, which supports preventive services such as screenings and referrals for women's cardiovascular health.
• Removes the limit that allows only three states to receive WISEWOMAN grants.
• Lets providers participate without providing services under the CDC's National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, as the CDC determines.
• Allows participation by high-risk women not eligible under that other program, based on CDC criteria, and requires a GAO report on the program.

Official summary

Women’s Heart Health Expansion Act of 2026 This bill reauthorizes through FY2031 and expands a grant program that supports preventive health services (e.g., screenings, referrals) regarding women’s cardiovascular health. This program is known as the Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation of Women Across the Nation (WISEWOMAN) program, which is administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Under current law, only three states may receive a WISEWOMAN grant, and health care providers and recipients of services must participate in the CDC’s National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program in order to qualify under the WISEWOMAN program. The bill revises the WISEWOMAN program by (1) removing the three-state limitation, (2) allowing providers to participate even if not providing services under the other CDC program (as determined by the CDC), and (3) allowing participation of high-risk women who are not eligible under the other CDC program (based on CDC criteria). Additionally, the bill requires the Government Accountability Office to report to Congress on the work of the WISEWOMAN program.

Latest action

Mar 19, 2026: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Hearings held.

Committee: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions