PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act Signed Into Law

The Providing Urgent Maternal Protections (PUMP) for Nursing Mothers Act (S. 1658/H.R. 3110) was signed into law by the President on December 29, 2022, extending federal protections for time and space to pump during the workday to millions more workers.
 
The bill was passed as part of the omnibus spending package. This legislation is the first standalone breastfeeding bill to receive a recorded vote on the House and Senate floor, where it received strong bipartisan support, including an astounding 92 yes votes in the Senate! The House version of the PUMP Act (H.R. 3110) was passed with a vote of 276-149.
 
“The future of our nation’s children is a little bit brighter thanks to the PUMP Act. Working parents who are trying to feed their babies now have the law on their side,” said Cheryl Lebedevitch, Senior Policy & Communications Manager at the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee, a national coalition of organizations with a shared mission to create a landscape of breastfeeding support.  
 
The Break Time for Nursing Mothers law, passed in 2010, requires employers to provide reasonable break time and a private, non-bathroom space for breastfeeding employees to pump during the work day. The 2022 PUMP Act makes several important changes to this landmark legislation:

• Provides the right to break time and space to pump breast milk at work to millions more workers, including teachers and nurses
• Makes it possible for workers to file a lawsuit to seek monetary remedies in the event that their employer fails to comply
• Clarifies that pumping time must be paid if an employee is not completely relieved from duty

 
The legislation went into effect immediately when it was signed, however, the enforcement provision included a 120-day delay, making the effective date for that provision April 28, 2023. In addition, there is a 3-year delay in the implementation of the protections for railway workers. Unfortunately, due to significant industry opposition, the law does not apply to flight attendants and pilots. 

“The passage of the PUMP Act clearly demonstrates that breastfeeding is a bipartisan policy issue. Generations to come will benefit from these lactation protections for themselves or for their loved ones. The USBC will continue to push to extend lactation accommodation protections to airline workers so that every lactating worker is protected,” said Amelia Psmythe Seger, Deputy Director of the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee.
 
“The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee applauds the advocates across the nation who have worked collaboratively for more than a decade to pass the PUMP Act. This new law represents countless hours of discussion and negotiations with a broad array of stakeholders, including parents, unions, healthcare organizations, worker rights advocates, business associations, faith-based organizations, and legislators on both sides of the aisle. The PUMP Act shows what is possible when we come together for the good of our nation,” said Nikia Sankofa, Executive Director of the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee.