In this issue:

• USBC Updates
  • Update and Action Alert on the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act
  • Joint Letter on the Access to Donor Milk Act Delivered to House Leadership
  • Support USBC in Your Year-End Giving
  • Reminder: Weekly Wire Hiatus & USBC Office Closures
• National News
  • Continuing Resolution Passed to Prevent Government Shutdown
  • Interactive Map of State Perinatal Quality Collaboratives
  • ATNI Spotlight on Lobbying 2022
  • Proposed Rule on Medicaid & Medicare Programs
• State & Community News
  • Workplace Protections for Breastfeeding Workers in New York Signed Into Law 
• News & Views
• Journal Publications

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

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USBC Updates

Update and Action Alert on the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act

The 117th Congress is in its final days. If the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act (S. 1658/H.R. 3110) doesn't pass before Congress adjourns we will have to begin back at square one next session. We aren't giving up and you shouldn't either. Please join us in a final push for this critical legislation! Our congressional champions are working hard to get this crucial bill over the finish line, but time is running out. We are urging Senators to find a path forward to deliver relief for the 9 million working women who need and deserve the right to time and space to pump during the work day. Now is the time to raise your voice for the PUMP Act:

• Contact your Senators with our easy action tool
• Invite your network to take action by sharing PUMP Act posts on social media
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

 Joint Letter on the Access to Donor Milk Act Delivered to House Leadership

The USBC-affiliated Pasteurized Donor Human Milk (PDHM) Constellation delivered the joint letter on the Access to Donor Milk Act (ADMA) 2022 to House leadership this week with 90 organizational signatories. The Constellation coordinated this letter as part of their work to increase access to lifesaving donor milk. Signatures will continue to be added on a rolling basis and included in future deliveries to legislators. Organizations are invited to sign on via the online form. 

Support USBC in Your Year-End Giving

This holiday season, you can make a world of difference for babies and families. Please consider making a donation, one-time, or recurring, to the USBC before the end of the month. Our advocacy efforts cannot be supported by our grant funding, so we rely on the passionate and committed advocates who rely on the Weekly Wire newsletter and take action with us to step up and support our efforts with their generosity. We know it's a lot to ask for one more thing. But this is our year-end push and we need to raise $5,000 before the end of 2022. Can you make a commitment to support the USBC advocacy efforts today, and for the coming year? Any and all donations are appreciated and gratefully received. Thank you.

Reminder: Weekly Wire Hiatus & USBC Office Closures

The Weekly Wire will be on hiatus for the last two weeks of December, beginning the week of December 19. The USBC offices will be closed on Monday, December 26, in observance of the Christmas holiday, and on Monday, January 2 in observance of New Year's Day. We look forward to connecting in the New Year!

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National News

Continuing Resolution Passed to Prevent Government Shutdown

The House and Senate have passed the Further Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2023 (H.R.1437) to temporarily fund the government through Friday, December 23. Known as a continuing resolution, the bill gives policymakers additional time to negotiate an omnibus spending package containing the Fiscal Year 2023 appropriations bills. The continuing resolution will be sent to the President's desk for signature. 

Interactive Map of State Perinatal Quality Collaboratives 

The National Institute for Children's Health Quality (NICHQ) serves as the coordinating center for the National Network of Perinatal Quality Collaboratives (NNPQC). NNPQC was created to support the development and capacity of state perinatal quality collaboratives (PQCs) to make measurable improvements in statewide maternal and infant healthcare and health outcomes. The NNPQC webpage includes an interactive map of PQCs that can be filtered by perinatal activities, including breastfeeding and human milk. 

ATNI Spotlight on Lobbying 2022

The Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNI) published "Spotlight on Lobbying 2022." The report is the first in-depth benchmark of the world's 25 largest food and beverage companies' lobbying policy commitments, management systems, and disclosures with a focus on nutrition-related public health measures. The purpose of the report is to encourage food and beverage manufacturers to improve their corporate practices to lobby more responsibly and in the public health interest. The report highlights the previous ATNI publication "Spotlight on Lobbying: BMS Manufacturers 2021" which provided a baseline benchmark on the lobbying policies of the world's nine largest manufacturers of Breast-Milk substitutes (BMS).

Proposed Rule on Medicaid & Medicare Programs

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule in the Federal Register. The proposal would place new requirements on Medicaid and Medicare programs that would reduce overall payer and provider burden and increase patient access to health information by improving the electronic exchange of healthcare data and streamlining processes related to prior authorization. CMS is seeking comments on how the rule can support state efforts related to the CMS Maternity Care Action Plan, including expanding access to lactation consultations. Comments on the proposed rule will be accepted through Monday, March 13, 2023.

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State & Community News

Workplace Protections for Breastfeeding Workers in New York Signed Into Law 

New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law bill number A01236A. The legislation requires employers to designate a space, that is not a restroom or toilet stall, for employees to pump breast milk. The law also requires the development and annual distribution of a written policy regarding the rights of nursing employees to express breastmilk in the workplace. Media highlights include:

• The New York Post: "New law says NY biz must make room for breastfeeding workers on the job"

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News & Views

A Better Balance: "STATEMENT: Pregnant Workers Fairness Act Fails to Pass by Unanimous Consent; Bill Has the 60+ Votes Needed to Pass & Leader Schumer Must Bring it to Floor Today"

AMCHP: "Celebrating Title V Innovations Featured in the Association of Maternal & Child Health Program’s (AMCHP’s) Innovation Hub"

Coalition of Oklahoma Breastfeeding Advocates: "Fantastic opportunity to meet with Congresswoman Stephanie Bice this week when she toured the Oklahoma Mothers' Milk Bank!"  

HHS: "Readout: CMS Hosts Maternal Health Convening with Leaders Across Government, Industry"

Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion: "Learn How to Use Healthy People 2030 Evidence-Based Resources in Your Work"

The Huffington Post: "Airlines Are Holding Back A Major Law That Would Protect Pumping Breast Milk At Work" 

Wisconsin Public Radio: "Racial, ethnic disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes remain wide in Wisconsin"

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Journal Publications

BMJ: "Formula milk companies are exploiting legal loopholes, say campaigners"

Frontiers: "Bedsharing may partially explain the reduced risk of sleep-related death in breastfed infants"

In this issue:

• USBC Updates
  • Blog on WIC Food Package Proposal and Public Comment Opportunity
  • Webinar on Policy Solutions and Strategies 
  • New USBC Member: Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Lactation Collaborative of California
  • Deadline Approaching: Access to Donor Milk Act Sign-On Letter 
  • This is Our Why Line of USBC Products Available For a Limited Time
  • Weekly Wire Hiatus & USBC Office Closure in December
• International News
  • Global Breastfeeding Scorecard 2022 Released
• National News
  • Webinar on Continuity of Care
  • CDC Media Materials Celebrating Breastfeeding
  • Action Tool Urging Support for the Black Maternal Health Momnibus
  • Webinar on Cultural Transformation of Maternal Health Programs and Models
  • Pregnant Women in Custody Act Passes House
• State & Community News
  • California Medicaid Program Coverage of Pasteurized Donor Human Milk
• News & Views

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

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USBC Updates

Blog on WIC Food Package Proposal and Public Comment Opportunity

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee published a blog titled "USDA Proposes New WIC Package." The blog describes the recent proposal from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service to update the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) food packages, the process for developing the proposal, how it would impact lactation support in the WIC program, and how to submit comments. 

Webinar on Policy Solutions and Strategies 

Join the U.S. Breastfeeding for the "Collaboratively Pursuing Policy Solutions: Lessons Learned from the USBC" webinar on Wednesday, January 11, from 2-3:30 p.m. ET. The evidence is clear that the policies and systems that shape and influence our lives have a significant and lasting impact on infant feeding outcomes. Too often, policy decisions have a population-level impact yet do not take into consideration the needs of infants, their mothers and lactating parents, and their families. For decades, the lactation field has come together to identify policy barriers and gaps and push for change. USBC Deputy Director Amelia Psmythe Seger and USBC Senior Policy & Communications Manager Cheryl Lebedevitch will review the organization's collaborative approach to organizing stakeholders for policy, systems, and environmental change efforts, describe strategies for creating legislative change, and share the USBC policy priorities for the 118th congressional session. 

New USBC Member: Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Lactation Collaborative of California

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee is pleased to welcome the Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Lactation Collaborative of California to the USBC membership! The Collaborative is a joint workgroup made up of AANHPI lactation professionals, public health workers, students, and retired lactation professionals from California. The organization works to mobilize AANHPI communities, mainstream reproductive health organizations, and public health systems through advocacy, capacity building, and policy work for systemic change to uplift AANHPI communities. The USBC warmly welcomes the Collaborative to the membership community!

Deadline Approaching: Access to Donor Milk Act Sign-On Letter 

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee-affiliated Pasteurized Donor Human Milk Constellation has released an organizational sign-on letter in support of the Access to Donor Milk Act (ADMA) of 2022 (H.R. 9196). The ADMA would help increase life-saving access to donor milk for more families by:

• allowing state agencies to use Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) funding to promote the need for and benefits of donor milk, and allow WIC funds to support donor milk activities in states;
• providing $3 million in emergency capacity funding for milk banks in the event that there is a rapid increase in demand for donor milk, as was seen during the 2022 formula shortage;
• allocating $1 million to create a donor milk awareness program at the Department of Health and Human Services and expand an existing program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to educate the public on donor milk and nonprofit milk banks, to publicize the need for donor milk; and
• requiring that the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, issue a rule clarifying the regulatory status of donor milk provided by nonprofit milk banks.

Monday, December 12 is the deadline for organizations to sign on to be included in the initial delivery of the letter. Additional signatures will be added on a rolling basis.

This is Our Why Line of USBC Products Available For a Limited Time Only!

This holiday season, you can shop the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee's limited-time product line of apparel featuring our new This is Our Why design. Apparel options include hoodies and crewneck sweatshirts, to long and short-sleeved T-shirts, and even tank tops. Products are available in a variety of sizes and colors. Your purchase today can help create lasting change for babies and families. The USBC receives a small portion of each sale to fuel our advocacy efforts. Shoppers may also add a donation of any amount to their purchase. Order yours today! 

Weekly Wire Hiatus & USBC Office Closure in December

The Weekly Wire will be on hiatus for the last two weeks of December, beginning the week of December 19. The USBC offices will be closed on Monday, December 26, in observance of the holiday. We look forward to connecting when we return!

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International News

Global Breastfeeding Scorecard 2022 Released

The Global Breastfeeding Collective, a partnership led by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, released the 2022 Global Breastfeeding Scorecard. The scorecard tracks country-level and regional progress on seven policy actions and on breastfeeding practices within countries. The scorecard is designed to encourage and document progress on the promotion, protection, and support of breastfeeding. Each action has a progress indicator and a 2030 goal, which serve as a call for action for policymakers worldwide to make breastfeeding support a collective national priority.

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National News

 Webinar on Continuity of Care

The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) is hosting a webinar, titled "Connect before Content: Relating to the Family Unit and their Social Determinants of Health in chest/breastfeeding support," on Thursday, January 12, 2023, at 1 p.m. ET. This will be the sixth webinar in the eight-part Every Step of the Way through the 1,000 Days webinar series. The session will focus on Recommendation six of the "Continuity of Care in Breastfeeding Support: A Blueprint for Communities" document. Speakers will discuss cultural humility, family-centered lactation care including an awareness of the intersectionality of families, and how social determinants of health impact an infant's feeding journey. 

 CDC Media Materials Celebrating Breastfeeding

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hosts the State and Community Health Media Center, featuring free or low-cost, audience-tested ads and support materials (including photos) in English and other languages. The 2022 Breastfeeding Campaign includes a series of media resources and free digital advertisements in English and Spanish containing information on the health benefits of breastfeeding, the rights of breastfeeding employees, employer benefits, and more.

 Action Tool Urging Support for the Black Maternal Health Momnibus

MomsRising launched an action tool titled "Tell the Senate to enact legislation addressing the Black maternal health crisis before the end of the year!" Individuals can use the tool to contact their Senators in support of the Black Maternal Health Momnibus. This package of legislation takes urgent, serious action to end the maternal health crisis by building on existing legislation in Congress.

Webinar on Cultural Transformation of Maternal Health Programs and Models

The Maternal Health Learning and Innovation Center is hosting a webinar, titled "Cultural Transformation of Maternal Health Programs and Models – Training Indigenous Lactation Counselors," on Thursday, December 15, at 3 p.m. ET. Presenters Camie Goldhammer and Kimberly Moore Salas will discuss what it means to culturally adapt/transform training and program models for diverse communities as well as how to best support this work. Additionally, the speakers will present on a community-led model of expanding breastfeeding support and certification in Native American and Indigenous communities.

Pregnant Women in Custody Act Passes House

The Pregnant Women in Custody Act (H.R. 6878) passed the House of Representatives. The bill would provide a national standard of care to address pregnancy-related needs of incarcerated women during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and post-partum periods. 

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State & Community News

Medi-Cal Coverage of Pasteurized Donor Human Breast Milk California

Medi-Cal, California's Medicaid health care program, announced new coverage of medically necessary pasteurized donor human milk (PDHM) milk when obtained from a licensed and approved facility. There are two Human Milk banks in California: Mothers Milk Bank in San Jose, and the University of California Health Milk Bank in San Diego. 

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News & Views

POLITICO: "Crunch time for Dems is holding up bipartisan bill to protect pregnant workers"

Baby-Friendly USA: "Entire NYC Health + Hospitals System Is Baby-Friendly After Kings County Designation"

Business Wire: "The Lactation Network Expands Reach with Provider Network of America"

The Guardian: "Milk formula firms target women looking for pregnancy advice"

Global News: "Concordia graduate files complaint after university ‘discouraged’ breastfeeding in class"

Motherly: "Moms leave encouraging notes for each other in these breastfeeding pods—and it’s everything"

U.S. Department of Agriculture: "USDA Proposes Science Driven Updates to Foods Provided Through WIC | What They’re Saying"

The 19th: "The 19th Explains: Why baby formula is still hard to find months after the shortage"

In this issue:

• USBC Updates
  • This is Our Why Line of USBC Products Available Now
  • Introducing the 2022-2023 USBC Board of Directors
  • New USBC Members: San Diego County Breastfeeding Coalition and Nourish & Thrive
• National News
  • USDA Proposes Updates to WIC Food Packages
  • Access to Donor Milk Act Organizational Sign On Letter Launches
  • Insurance Payer Policy Guidance Released: Innovative Approaches to Coverage Of Breastfeeding Support, Equipment, and Supplies
  • NACCHO Consultant Funding Opportunity on Infant & Toddler Nutrition Materials
  • Prominent Celebrities Write Joint Letter Supporting Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
  • Great Lakes Webinar on Lactation Counseling through an Equity Lens
  • Report Evaluating Dietary Guidelines for Americans Process
  • Nominations Open for Advisory Committee on Infant and Maternal Mortality
  • Racial Healing Action Kits
  • Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act Committee Report
  • CDC PRAMS Information Collection Request
  • Webinar on Federal Agencies Enforcing Labor Protections
• News & Views
• Journal Publications

 

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

 

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USBC Updates

This is Our Why Line of USBC Products Available Now

This week, the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee launched a limited-time product line in the Bonfire store with the new This is Our Why design. Featuring a sweet image of a babe in arms, the design is available on products ranging from hoodies and crewneck sweatshirts, to long and short sleeved T-shirts, and even tank tops. With a variety of sizes and colors to choose from, we hope you will find something that delights you, a mom in your life, a family member, a teammate, or another person who cares about babies! The USBC receives a small portion of each sale to fuel our advocacy efforts. Shoppers may also add a donation of any amount to their purchase. Shop today to receive your items by the holidays.

Introducing the 2022-2023 USBC Board of Directors

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee is thrilled to introduce the 2022-2023 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 is proud that its Board is among the most diverse of any national organization. The USBC warmly welcomes our newly elected Board members, Amber Kapuamakamaeokalani Estelle Granite, IBC, GPCE, and Stephanne R. Rupnicki, CLC. Amber and Stephanne come to the USBC with rich backgrounds and experience amplifying breastfeeding support and advocacy for Indigenous communities. Learn more about them, and all of our talented board members, by reading their "Why I Serve" statements on the USBC website.

New USBC Members: San Diego County Breastfeeding Coalition and Nourish & Thrive

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee is pleased to welcome two new organizations to the USBC membership! The San Diego County Breastfeeding Coalition comes to the USBC with the mission to improve the health and well-being of families by protecting, promoting, and supporting breastfeeding through education, outreach, advocacy, and service. Nourish & Thrive works to improve breastfeeding rates for black birthing people by paying for lactation professionals and offering a database of black lactation professionals to choose from. The USBC warmly welcomes both organizations to the membership community!

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National News

USDA Proposes Updates to WIC Food Packages

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service announced proposed changes to food packages that are provided to Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) participants. This rulemaking proposes to revise regulations governing the WIC food packages to align them with the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans and reflect recommendations made by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) in its 2017 report, "Review of WIC Food Packages: Improving Balance and Choice," while promoting nutrition security and equity and taking into account program administration considerations. The proposed changes are intended to provide WIC participants with a wider variety of foods that align with the latest nutritional science; provide WIC State agencies with greater flexibility to prescribe and tailor food packages that accommodate participants' special dietary needs and personal and cultural food preferences; provide more equitable access to supplemental foods; and better promote and support individual breastfeeding goals of participants to help establish successful long-term breastfeeding. Individuals and organizations are invited to submit comments on the proposal by February 23, 2023.

USBC Insight: Responding to public comment opportunities is not lobbying. The federal government is actively soliciting your input to inform its decision-making. The National WIC Association has published a blog, "Broad Support for USDA Effort to Enhance Access to Healthy Foods for WIC Families." The USBC is preparing a blog summarizing the rule process and key components that support breastfeeding.

Access to Donor Milk Act Organizational Sign On Letter Launches

The USBC-affiliated Pasteurized Donor Human Milk Constellation has released an organizational sign on letter in support of the Access to Donor Milk Act (ADMA) of 2022, (H.R. 9196). The ADMA would help increase life-saving access to donor milk, particularly important in light of this year's formula recall and shortage, and as part of a robust infrastructure for infant nutrition security. The initial deadline to sign on is Monday, December 12. Signers will be added on a rolling basis. 

Insurance Payer Policy Guidance Released: Innovative Approaches to Coverage Of Breastfeeding Support, Equipment, and Supplies

The USBC-affiliated Lactation Support Professionals Constellation has released a document titled "Payer Policy Guidance: Innovative Approaches to Coverage Of Breastfeeding Support, Equipment, and Supplies." The guidance aims to provide health insurers with information to consider when updating their policies, in order to better mobilize the workforce while increasing access to care. The document outlines what breastfeeding families need and when; the lactation workforce composition; and innovative ways to leverage existing payment mechanisms while bolstering community support.  

NACCHO Consultant Funding Opportunity on Infant & Toddler Nutrition Materials

With support from the Center for Disease Contol and Prevention's Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity, the National Association of County and City Health Officials issued a Request for Proposals titled "Culturally Responsive Nutrition materials for Infants and Toddlers." The RFP will fund up to two consultants to develop culturally-responsive educational materials for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and/or Refugee, Immigrant, and Migrant (RIM) communities. Two awards, with funding up to $10,000 each, are available. The application deadline is Sunday, December 11. Selections will be made by Thursday, December 15. 

Prominent Celebrities Write Joint Letter Supporting Pregnant Workers Fairness Act

Prominent women leaders in entertainment, fashion, sports, business, and tech joined together to write an open letter to Senate Majority Leader Schumer. The letter urges the Senator to ensure respect and equality for women and moms across the country by bringing the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act to a vote by the end of the year. The PWFA would ensure reasonable workplace accommodations for workers whose ability to perform the functions of a job are limited by pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, including lactation. Learn how you can take action an amplify this message with the A Better Balance blog titled, "Take Action: Demand a Vote on the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act!" 

Great Lakes Webinar on Lactation Counseling through an Equity Lens

Registration is now open for a Great Lakes Webinar titled "The Importance of Lactation Counseling through an Equity Lens." Participants will learn about the implications of equity-centered lactation counseling and about strategies for serving families in new ways. This webinar is approved for 1 L-CERP, 1 nurse's contact hour, 1 social work CE hour, 1 dietitian CPEU, 1 community health worker CEU, 1 certified health education specialist CECH, and 1 CME until November 21, 2023. 

Report Evaluating Process for Dietary Guidelines for Americans

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine released an evaluation report titled "Evaluating the Process to Develop the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025: Final Report," The report compares the process of developing the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025 to recommendations included in the previously published National Academies report, "Redesigning the Process for Establishing the Dietary Guidelines for Americans." The report describes the findings of the committee and the conclusions related to this assessment. The 2020-2025 edition of the DGA included, for the first time, recommendations for infants and toddlers as well as pregnant and lactating women.

Nominations Open for Advisory Committee on Infant and Maternal Mortality

The Health Resources and Services Administration issued a request for nominations of qualified candidates to serve on the Advisory Committee on Infant and Maternal Mortality (ACIMM). ACIMM advises the Secretary of HHS (Secretary) on department activities, partnerships, policies, and programs that aim to reduce infant mortality, maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity, and improve the health status of infants and women before, during, and after pregnancy. The deadline for nominations is January 23, 2023. 

Racial Healing Action Kits

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation released a series of Action Kits as part of its National Day of Racial Healing efforts. Action kits provide event and activity ideas to engage community members, including children, business owners, faith leaders, and policymakers in the collaborative effort to advance racial healing in communities. Each kit includes event checklists, conversation guides, social media graphics, PowerPoint templates, and other tools to help plan and host racial healing-focused events.

Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act Committee Report

The House Education and Labor Committee produced a committee report on the Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act (H.R. 8450). The Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act would authorize and expand the Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Program, authorizing $180M in funding for this program, a $90M increase, to ensure that WIC agencies can support more full-time positions and increase placements outside of clinics. The bill would also provide targeted funding flexibility to ensure that breastfeeding supplies can be purchased with food funds, extend postpartum eligibility for WIC to two years, and extend child eligibility to age six or the beginning of kindergarten.

CDC PRAMS Information Collection Request

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has submitted the information collection request on the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. CDC previously published the "Proposed Data Collection Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations" notice on July 5, 2022, to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies. CDC received two comments related to the previous notice. This notice serves to allow an additional 30 days for public and affected agency comments.

Webinar on Federal Agencies Enforcing Labor Protections

The U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Office of Human Rights is hosting a webinar titled "Get to Know Us: Overview of Your Rights and Protections" on Tuesday, December 6, from 12-1:30 p.m. ET. Webinar presenters will share about different agencies' rights and responsibilities, best practices for employers, what employees need to know, and how to protect and advocate for themselves. 

USBC Insight: The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is responsible for the enforcement of the Pregnancy Discrimination Act and the U.S. Department of Labor is responsible for the enforcement of the Break Time for Nursing Mothers law. 

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News & Views

The New York Times: "What It Really Takes to Breastfeed a Baby"

U.S. FDA: "Outline of FDA’s Strategy to Help Prevent Cronobacter sakazakii Illnesses Associated with Consumption of Powdered Infant Formula"

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Journal Publications

Community, Work & Family: Explaining the positive relationship between state-level paid family leave and mental health

Nursing Research: Nurse-Reported Staffing Guidelines and Exclusive Breast Milk Feeding