The Advancing Safe Medications for Moms and Babies Act of 2026 is a proposed law aimed at improving the health of pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as their infants, by ensuring they are included in medical research. The bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to update regulations to protect these women during clinical trials and to promote their participation. It also calls for an educational campaign to inform the public and healthcare providers about the importance of including pregnant and breastfeeding women in research. Additionally, the bill directs the National Institutes of Health to prioritize studies on medications used by these women to better understand their effects and ensure safety.
Supporters of the bill, including its sponsors Representatives Kathy Castor, Brian Fitzpatrick, and Lauren Underwood, emphasize that including pregnant and lactating women in clinical research is crucial for closing significant information gaps that can impact the health of mothers and babies. They argue that the legislation will modernize FDA regulations, raise awareness, and encourage high-quality research projects at the NIH, ultimately ensuring that moms and babies stay safe and healthy. [Source: Rep. Kathy Castor's Press Release](https://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=405206)
While specific negative media coverage is not readily available, potential criticisms of the bill could include concerns about the ethical implications of involving pregnant and lactating women in clinical trials, the challenges of obtaining informed consent, and the need to ensure that such research does not expose these women and their infants to undue risks. Additionally, some may question the feasibility of implementing the proposed educational campaigns and research prioritization within the specified timelines and budgets.
Based on the available data, there appears to be a low level of potential conflict of interest between the sponsor's donors and the bill's subject matter. The sponsor, Kathy Castor, does not have any direct industry overlaps with the bill's subject matter. However, there has been significant lobbying activity in this bill's policy area. The most notable contributions come from BAE, Kim & Lee, LLC and MBK Partners, who have contributed $370,000 and $150,000 respectively. Despite these contributions, there is no direct evidence to suggest that these organizations are influencing the bill's sponsor. It is important for voters to be aware of these financial contributions, but without direct overlap between the sponsor's donors and the bill's subject matter, the risk of conflict of interest remains low.
Organizations that lobbied on issues related to this bill's policy area.
| Client | Lobbying Firm | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BAE, KIM & LEE, LLC | THE MCKEON GROUP, INC. | $370,000 |
| MBK PARTNERS | THE MCKEON GROUP, INC. | $150,000 |
| B. BRAUN MEDICAL INC. | POLSINELLI PC | $70,000 |
| VECTOR | THE MCKEON GROUP, INC. | $40,000 |
| SOLUTION PHILIPPINES, LLC | THE MCKEON GROUP, INC. | $40,000 |
| AMERICAN PHARMACISTS ASSOCIATION | AMERICAN PHARMACISTS ASSOCIATION | $35,000 |
| D-WAVE GOVERNMENT, INC | THE MCKEON GROUP, INC. | $10,000 |
| NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF RSVP PROGRAM DIRECTORS | THE SUSQUEHANNA GROUP | $5,000 |
| STR8 CORPORATION | BRODY GROUP L.L.C. PUBLIC AFFAIRS | undisclosed |
| WEST GULF MARITIME ASSOCIATION | WEST GULF MARITIME ASSOCIATION | undisclosed |
| CENTRAL ADMIXTURE PHARMACY SERVICES, INC. | POLSINELLI PC | undisclosed |
| CARTRIDGE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC | CHECKMATE GOVERNMENT RELATIONS | undisclosed |
| BLUE DIAMOND ATOMICS | NATURAL STATE CONSULTING AND STRATEGIES | undisclosed |
| POPLICUS INCORPORATED DBA GOVINI | CHECKMATE GOVERNMENT RELATIONS | undisclosed |
| STRYDENT AUTONOMOUS TECHNOLOGIES | POTOMAC STRATEGIC CONSULTING LLC | undisclosed |
Source: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) filings, 2026
Top industries funding Kathy Castor, ranked by total contributions.
Source: OpenSecrets.org (Center for Responsive Politics)
