Zonta International is a global organization of individuals dedicated to building a better world for women and girls. The Zonta USA Advocacy Action Center is a tool for our members in the United States and other individuals who share our commitment to gender equality to take action to improve the lives of women and girls. With your help, we can make a difference..
Comprehensive maternal health care for veterans is essential. Maternal care must include access to trained professionals who provide critical physical, emotional and informational support before, during and after childbirth. Doulas have been shown to improve birth outcomes, reduce complications and help address disparities in maternal care – particularly for those who may face higher risks or barriers to access.
U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) have reintroduced bipartisan legislation to create a five-year pilot program providing doula services to pregnant veterans. The Delivering Optimally Urgent Labor Access for Veterans Affairs Act of 2026 (DOULA Act) would integrate doula care into the VA’s Whole Health Model, ensuring veterans—including those navigating military sexual trauma or PTSD—receive continuous physical, emotional, and informational support throughout pregnancy and postpartum.
By expanding access to trained doulas, the bill seeks to improve maternal and infant outcomes, strengthen women’s autonomy in developing birthing plans, and deepen engagement with the VA after childbirth. The legislation was inspired by Senator Booker’s 2018 Veterans Day roundtable with female veterans.
“Pregnant veterans face unique challenges, especially when it comes to mental health, and studies show that doulas can help provide better health outcomes because they are trained to provide physical, emotional, and informational support during pregnancy and after birth,” said Senator Booker. “This bipartisan legislation will expand access to doulas through the VA and give veterans the support they need for safer pregnancies and healthier outcomes for both mothers and their children.”
“This legislation embraces a holistic approach to improving maternal health for those who have served our country, particularly for those who have experienced post-traumatic stress disorder,” said Senator Murkowski. “The development of this program to provide doulas to pregnant veterans builds on the work I’ve done to improve the services that the VA offers that are tailored to women veterans, and to build stronger support systems for them.”
Please use our pre-drafted letters to urge your senators to co-sponsor and support the DOULA for VA Act of 2026 (S.4225). If they have already sponsored or co-sponsored the bill, you can send a message of thanks.
U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) have reintroduced bipartisan legislation to create a five-year pilot program providing doula services to pregnant veterans. The Delivering Optimally Urgent Labor Access for Veterans Affairs Act of 2026 (DOULA Act) would integrate doula care into the VA’s Whole Health Model, ensuring veterans—including those navigating military sexual trauma or PTSD—receive continuous physical, emotional, and informational support throughout pregnancy and postpartum.
By expanding access to trained doulas, the bill seeks to improve maternal and infant outcomes, strengthen women’s autonomy in developing birthing plans, and deepen engagement with the VA after childbirth. The legislation was inspired by Senator Booker’s 2018 Veterans Day roundtable with female veterans.
“Pregnant veterans face unique challenges, especially when it comes to mental health, and studies show that doulas can help provide better health outcomes because they are trained to provide physical, emotional, and informational support during pregnancy and after birth,” said Senator Booker. “This bipartisan legislation will expand access to doulas through the VA and give veterans the support they need for safer pregnancies and healthier outcomes for both mothers and their children.”
“This legislation embraces a holistic approach to improving maternal health for those who have served our country, particularly for those who have experienced post-traumatic stress disorder,” said Senator Murkowski. “The development of this program to provide doulas to pregnant veterans builds on the work I’ve done to improve the services that the VA offers that are tailored to women veterans, and to build stronger support systems for them.”
Please use our pre-drafted letters to urge your senators to co-sponsor and support the DOULA for VA Act of 2026 (S.4225). If they have already sponsored or co-sponsored the bill, you can send a message of thanks.
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