Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire - Introducing the 2025-2026 USBC Board of Directors & more

Weekly Wire: October 3, 2025

The Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire e-Newsletter is a compendium of news, actions, and resources considered to be of interest or relevance to the breastfeeding field. The newsletter aims to support the USBC mission "To drive collaborative efforts for policy and practices that create a landscape of breastfeeding support across the United States." Included items are submitted for consideration or identified by the USBC e-news team via extensive online review. Whenever possible, the newsletter utilizes language directly from the primary source of an item without additional analysis or edits. In some cases, the USBC offers additional perspectives through the "USBC Insights," media and partner highlights, and the "News & Views" section. Inclusion of an item in the e-newsletter does not imply endorsement or support by the USBC of an item or organization, unless specifically noted. 

In this issue:

• USBC Updates
  • Introducing the 2025-2026 USBC Board of Directors!
  • It's Cartober! Donate Your Old Vehicle & Support the USBC
• National News
  • Government Shutdown: What This Means for the Field
• Funding Opportunities
• Upcoming Events
• News & Views
• Journal Publications

 denotes a USBC member organization news item        denotes a USBC-affiliated constellation news item

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USBC Updates

Introducing the 2025-2026 USBC Board of Directors!

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee is thrilled to introduce the 2025-2026 Board of Directors. Elected by our voting member organizations, the USBC Board of Directors is a talented cohort of breastfeeding advocates dedicated to supporting the organization's mission and vision. Board members bring a wide range of expertise and experiences to their board service, and the composition of this group directly reflects the organization's deep commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and representation. The USBC also extends a sincere thank you to our outgoing Board members Arissa Palmer, Petrichor Kneeland-Campbell, Pauline Sakamoto, and Jennie Toland for their dedication and service to the USBC. We are incredibly grateful for their time, talent, and resources during their terms.

It's Cartober! Donate Your Old Vehicle & Support the USBC

Give your car new purpose this Cartober! The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee partners with CARS to turn old vehicles into tax-deductible donations for the USBC. Donate your old car, truck, RV, motorcycle, or boat to the USBC and help make a difference today. Funds from your donation help us continue to drive collaborative change for policy and practices that create a landscape of breastfeeding support across the United States. Learn more and schedule your donation pick-up today. 

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National News

Federal Government Shutdown Puts Discretionary Programs at Risk

With no appropriations passed for Fiscal Year 2026, the federal government shut down on Wednesday, October 1, halting discretionary and other non-essential federal activities. Programs that rely on discretionary funding are especially vulnerable, including critical initiatives that support maternal and child health. The only line item in the federal budget explicitly dedicated to breastfeeding support is discretionary, putting the CDC’s Hospitals Promoting Breastfeeding program at risk of interruption or delay in funding. Many other research, support, and technical assistance programs and grants that impact lactation and perinatal care also depend on annual appropriations and could be paused or delayed. This includes the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, which is vulnerable to disruption because current federal reserves can support it only temporarily. The extent of the impacts will hinge on the duration of the shutdown—the longer it lasts, the more disruptions will occur. Even short-term interruptions can create service gaps, staffing uncertainty, and delays in grant cycles. The USBC is monitoring developments closely and will share updates on how the shutdown is affecting the lactation field, as well as opportunities for action. Detailed information on federal funding for breastfeeding can be found on the "Federal Appropriations for Breastfeeding" webpage. Highlights from the field include:

• Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs: "Congress Fails to Come to a Funding Agreement, Government Shuts Down"
• Food, Research, & Action Center: "How Will a Government Shutdown Affect WIC Benefits?"
•  National WIC Association: "National WIC Association Emphasizes WIC Has Funds to Remain Open Temporarily in Government Shutdown, Urges Congressional Action"
• NPR: "The federal shutdown puts nutrition aid for millions of new parents at risk"
• Reuters: "US government shutdown threatens food-aid program for low-income Americans"
• The Washington Post: "WIC funding could run out in weeks, as government shuts down"
• ZERO TO THREE: "Government Shutdown: Families Need Solutions, Not More Chaos and Cuts"

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Funding Opportunities

National Institute for Health Care Management: "Journalism Grants." Application deadline: Monday, October 27.

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Upcoming Events

Thursday, October 9:

• Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs: "AMCHP Policy & Partnerships Town Hall Series 2025"

Wednesday, October 15:

• Health Leads: "Redesigning Maternal Health: Increasing Access to Doula Care"

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News & Views

American Heart Association: "Exploring Opportunities for Innovation in Rural Maternal Care"

HR Brew: "Lawmakers push for paid family leave, again, with Levi’s and Patagonia on board"

KATV: "Arkansas moms get a boost with new breastfeeding law and guide"

Item Live: "Lynn installs lactation pod in City Hall"

Lima News: "Joint Township earns top marks for breastfeeding promotion"

Straight Arrow News: "What’s behind MAHA’s new strategy to boost breastfeeding in the US?"

The Conversation: "Breastfeeding is ideal for child and parent health but challenging for most families – a pediatrician explains how to find support"

The Guardian: "Mississippi declares infant deaths emergency as CDC program that could have helped is halted"

Unicorn Riot: "How Indigenous Milk Medicine Week Creates Healthy Communities"

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Journal Publications

International Breastfeeding Journal: "Breastfeeding knowledge, attitudes and practices of HIV-positive women in Africa: a systematic review"

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U.S. Breastfeeding Committee
1629 K Street NW Suite 300 | Washington, District of Columbia 20006
(773) 359-1549 | [email protected] 

 

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