Federal Appropriations for Breastfeeding

Each year funding is allocated to a variety of federally funded programs that include breastfeeding support through the federal appropriations process. Appropriations for breastfeeding have helped build and strengthen critical programs and initiatives to improve maternity care practices, increase access to peer & professional support, ensure continuity of breastfeeding care, increase support for breastfeeding employees, and address disparities in breastfeeding rates. Funding relevant to the breastfeeding field are primarily included in the Labor-HHS and Agriculture appropriations bills. 

About the Federal Budget Process

Each federal budget is developed for what is called a Fiscal Year, which begins on October 1 and runs through September 30 of the following year. Developing a federal budget begins with the President submitting a budget plan. The President's budget reflects the vision, values, and priorities of the Administration and sets the stage for the federal budget negotiation process.

Congress then develops its budget plan, called the budget resolution, to set a total amount for spending in the year ahead. The budget total is sent to the House and Senate appropriations committees, where it is divided among 12 subcommittees each charged with developing an appropriations bill. Appropriations Committees hold "mark-ups" for each of the 12 annual spending bills.

Once these bills pass both Houses, they must be "conferenced" to work out any differences between the two versions. House-Senate conference committees make final determinations and prepare a Conference Report. The Conference Report is then passed by the House and the Senate and sent to the President to be signed.

Learn more about the federal budget process.

Funding for Breastfeeding in Fiscal Year 2022

President's Budget

The Office of Management and Budget has released "Budget of the United States Government, Fiscal Year 2022." The report contains the Budget Message of the President for Fiscal Year 2021, information on the President's priorities, and summary tables. 

USBC analysis of the President's budget: "Fiscal Year 2022 President’s Budget Released"

Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS)

The Labor-HHS appropriations bill includes funding for programs and agencies that impact breastfeeding families, including:

• Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) Hospitals Promoting Breastfeeding Program
• Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) program
• State Physical Activity and Nutrition (SPAN) program 
• Title V Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant
• Healthy Start program
• National Early Child Care Collaboratives program
• Early Head Start program
• Task Force on Research in Pregnant Women and Lactating Women
• Safe Motherhood and Infant Health Program
• National Early Child Care Collaboratives Program
• Office on Women’s Health
• CDC’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity (DNPAO)
• Office of Minority Health
• Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division

USBC analysis of the House Labor-HHS bill: "Fiscal Year 2022 House Labor-HHS Appropriations Report Released"

Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies (Agriculture)

The Agriculture appropriations bill designates funding for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, including the breastfeeding peer counselor program. 

The CDC Justification of Estimates includes $9.5M for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Hospitals Promoting Breastfeeding program, level funding from FY 2021. The Hospitals Promoting Breastfeeding program provides critical support to advance breastfeeding continuity of care and increase access to lactation-friendly environments in states, hospitals, and communities. 

Opportunities for Action 

USBC is urging Congress to direct $20M to the CDC Hospitals Promoting Breastfeeding line item in the FY 2022 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Related Agencies appropriations bill, $10.5M above the President’s budget level.