Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire - 2025 National Breastfeeding Month Theme & more

In this issue:

• USBC Updates
  • 2025 National Breastfeeding Month Theme Announcement
  • Make Travel Easier for Breastfeeding Parents: Call on Congress to Pass the BABES Enhancement Act
  • USBC Supports...
• National News
  • FY26 Federal Budget Update
  • Families USA Analysis: "Medicaid Cuts Would Be Deadly for Mothers and Babies"
  • U.S. Census Bureau Story on Employment and Parental Leave Trends Among First Time Parents
  • Resource Details Participation Rates of Women and LGBTQI+ People in Federal Programs 
• Action Opportunities
• Upcoming Events
• News & Views

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

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USBC Updates

2025 National Breastfeeding Month Theme Announcement

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee is excited to announce that the 2025 National Breastfeeding Month (NBM) theme is Forward Together. This year’s theme centers unity, solidarity, and hope, and celebrates the strength and determination of the organizations and advocates committed to advancing policy, systems, and environmental changes that promote, protect, and support breastfeeding and improve access to human milk. Stay tuned for more updates on this year’s NBM resources and weekly observances as they become available on the USBC National Breastfeeding Month webpage.

Make Travel Easier for Breastfeeding Parents: Call on Congress to Pass the BABES Enhancement Act

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee launched a new action tool to help make air travel easier for breastfeeding families. The action opportunity calls on Congress to pass the Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening (BABES) Enhancement Act which would require the TSA to issue guidance on handling baby formula, breast milk, and baby food and would require a review of how TSA officers are complying with screening requirements. 

USBC Supports...

 MomsRising: "Congressional Sign-On Letter - Protect Breastfeeding Programs & Research" *Please note that the deadline to sign has been extended to Wednesday, May 28.

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National News

FY26 Federal Budget Update

The Office of Management and Budget released the President's Fiscal Year 2026 “Skinny” Budget, outlining the administration’s discretionary spending priorities. This preliminary proposal does not include full program-level details, yet it sets the tone for upcoming federal budget negotiations. The budget proposes the elimination of the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP) within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The NCCDPHP houses the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity (DNPAO), which is a primary source of funding for breastfeeding programs, research, and surveillance. While the President's budget proposal serves as a policy blueprint, Congress will ultimately set funding levels. As the appropriations process continues, this is an important moment to ensure policymakers understand the value of continued funding for breastfeeding support. Take action with the USBC.

Families USA Analysis: "Medicaid Cuts Would Be Deadly for Mothers and Babies"

Families USA conducted and released an analysis report, "Medicaid Expansion Reduces Maternal Mortality: Medicaid Cuts Would Be Deadly for Mothers and Babies." The report compares maternal mortality rates between states that have expanded Medicaid and those that have not, revealing disparities that reinforce the urgent need to protect and strengthen Medicaid as a vital tool in promoting maternal health and preventing avoidable deaths.

U.S. Census Bureau Story on Employment and Parental Leave Trends Among First Time Parents

The U.S. Census Bureau released a story, "Share of Women Who Worked Before Their First Birth Rose." The story examines employment and parental leave trends among first-time parents based on recent U.S. Census Bureau data. The proportion of mothers employed before the birth of their first child has more than doubled over the past half-century, while the share of new fathers who took no leave of any kind has declined dramatically in the past few decades. 

Resource Details Participation Rates of Women and LGBTQI+ People in Federal Programs 

The National Women's Law Center released a new resource, "By The Numbers: Data on Key Programs for the Well-Being of Women, LGBTQI+ People, and Their Families." The resource provides a breakdown of data points on the anti-poverty and participation rates of women and LGBTQI+ people in key federal programs, including Medicaid and the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program.

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Action Opportunities

Families USA: "Tell Your Members of Congress: No Cuts to Medicaid!" Action deadline: n/a.

Food and Drug Administration: "Infant Formula Nutrient Requirements; Request for Information." Public comments deadline: Thursday, September 11. 

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Upcoming Events

Thursday, June 12:

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

Thursday, June 26:

• National Institute for Children’s Health Quality: "Keeping Our Babies Safe: Working Together to Reduce Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID)"

On-Demand: 

•  Michigan Breastfeeding Network - Great Lakes Breastfeeding Webinars: "Perinatal Emergency Preparedness"

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News & Views

A Better Balance: "Colorado Expands Paid Family and Medical Leave for NICU Parents"

Des Moines Register: "State worker paid parental leave bill jumps final legislative hurdle before becoming law"

Families USA: "Health Advocates Launch Campaign to Share Stories of Americans Impacted by Devastating Health Care Cuts"

KUAF: "Medicaid plays a 'key role' in rural maternal health"

Fast Company: "How to turn parental leave into a strategic advantage: What forward-thinking companies do differently."

 National Association of County and City Health Officials: "HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Testifies before the House and Senate on FY26 Budget and Department Overhaul"

The Kansas City Star: "Missouri and Kansas families rely on Medicaid. Defend it - now | Opinion"

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: "HHS, FDA Initiate Comprehensive Review of Nutrients in Infant Formula"