The USBC mobilizes action on legislative and policy opportunities that can help create a landscape of breastfeeding support across the United States. View and take action on current action opportunities and explore the current status of each bill in the legislative process below.
Consider sharing your story using one of our story collector tools to help inform policymakers about what is most needed in human milk feeding support. |
The pregnancy, birth, and postpartum periods through the child's first 1,000 days are critical periods for securing and establishing lifelong health for both mothers and babies. Yet, recent events have revealed deep vulnerabilities in our nation’s infrastructure to protect infant nutrition security. We must do more to protect and support breastfeeding, particularly during emergencies.
The CDC Hospitals Promoting Breastfeeding program supports a wide range of efforts to improve maternity care practices, increase access to lactation support, increase workplace support, and address disparities in breastfeeding rates. These high-value, low-cost public health interventions are good for families, public health, and the economy, but funding levels fall far short of what is needed. Join us in calling on the House and Senate Appropriations Committee to increase funding for breastfeeeding in the FY25 federal budget. |
Access to pasteurized donor milk has been shown to reduce mortality rates, lower healthcare costs, and shorten hospital stays but milk banks are not able to keep up with demand. The strategic federal investments in the bipartisan Access to Donor Milk Act would turn this around, bringing life-saving donor human milk to the infants who need it. Help us call on policymakers to pass the Access to Donor Milk Act by joining our sign-on letter and contacting your Senators and Representatives today!
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The United States is one of the only countries without a national paid family and medical leave program. As a result, nearly 1 in 4 mothers return to work just two weeks after giving birth. Research shows that access to paid leave makes a difference for lactating parents and their families, but only a small portion of workers in the United States have access to paid leave.
Congress has a chance right now to create a comprehensive and inclusive national paid family and medical leave program by passing the Family and Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Act. Let's raise our voices together to educate Congress on how a national paid leave program can support breastfeeding, improve health outcomes, and make a difference for American families. |
In 2022, the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections (PUMP) for Nursing Mothers Act was signed into law. This landmark legislation significantly closed a gap in federal legislation that left nearly 9 million women of childbearing age without the right to time and space to pump during the workday. Unfortunately, flight attendants and pilots are still left out of these important protections.
The Air PUMP Act would close this gap so that every working mom has the opportunity to breastfeed their baby. Let's raise our voices together to call on Congress to support all lactating employees. |
The United States is facing a maternal health crisis. In recent years, the number of pregnant and new mothers who lose their lives has grown substantially, with Black and Native communities facing the highest risk. In 2021, the maternal mortality rate for Black women was 2.6 times the rate for White women. The majority of these deaths were preventable. We can and must do better.
Let's raise our voices together to call on Congress to end this crisis by passing the Black Maternal Health Momnibus. |
Your story can help inspire a movement! The USBC works with our members and partners to educate policymakers and push for breastfeeding-friendly policy and practice changes for all families. Personal stories and experiences from constituents help decision-makers understand what is at stake and why action is needed.
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For those who have never walked this journey, it can be difficult to understand why this field is so passionate about creating a lactation-friendly society, but with your help, we can help paint a clearer picture.
Stories are the fuel that keep us working for real change that families need, and stories help us educate lawmakers about policies that can make a difference. We aim to capture authentic, honest, emotional, and very real experiences from families and those who support them. |
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