Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire - ABM Position Statement on Breastfeeding in Emergencies, State of Obesity Report, & more

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Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire - ABM Position Statement on Breastfeeding in Emergencies, State of Obesity Report, & more

9/20/2024

In this issue:

USBC Updates
- Welcoming New USBC Member Organizations: Coalition for Lactation-Friendly Schools & The BLACK Collaborative Inc.
- Share Your Organization's Resources, Events, & News for USBC Amplification
- Weekly Wire Hiatus
National News
- ABM Position Statement on Breastfeeding in Emergency Situations
- CBO Cost Estimate for the Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Enhancement Act
  EEOC Resource Details Pumping at Work Rights
- State of Obesity 2024 Report
- HHS Final Rule on Head Start Workforce and Program Quality
- House Resolution Acknowledging National Birth Center Week Introduced
State & Community News
- Maternal Health Bill Signed Into Law in Massachusetts
Action Opportunities
Upcoming Events
News & Views

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

USBC Updates

Welcoming New USBC Member Organizations: Coalition for Lactation-Friendly Schools & The BLACK Collaborative Inc.

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee is thrilled to welcome two new organizations to the USBC membership network. The Coalition for Lactation-Friendly Schools works to champion the rights of parenting students to achieve their lactation goals in every educational setting. The coalition was initiated by a nurse home visitor who recognized the lack of support at school as a barrier to successful breastfeeding. The Coalition helps educate legislators and the public on the need to better support lactating students in Pennsylvania.

The BLACK Collaborative Inc. is a national nonprofit organization comprised of Black birthing, lactation, and maternal child health professionals, advocates, and allies working collaboratively to address Black mortality, reproductive rights, and health equity. The BLACK Collaborative works to amplify community voices through listening sessions and mobilize efforts to influence decision-making around birth and breastfeeding equity. The USBC warmly welcomes both organizations to the USBC network!

Share Your Organization's Resources, Events, & News for USBC Amplification

The USBC invites you to submit your organization's news, updates, or events for consideration to be included in the Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire newsletter or other USBC communications channels. Share your news items today so that we can help amplify the impact of your efforts!

Weekly Wire Hiatus

The Weekly Wire will be on hiatus the week of September 23 while our staff members are preparing for and hosting the Fall Membership Meeting. We look forward to connecting with members at the meeting and with everyone else when we return! Is your organization interested in becoming a USBC member and joining biannual membership meetings? Complete the USBC Membership Interest Form.

National News

ABM Position Statement on Breastfeeding in Emergency Situations

The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine released "Position Statement: Breastfeeding in Emergencies." The position statement provides global recommendations on protecting, promoting, and supporting breastfeeding in emergency situations. The recommendations are the first of their kind specifically tailored for physicians to support breastfed and non-breastfed infants in emergencies and to serve as a resource for all emergency relief personnel involved in supporting families with infants during disasters. Read the press release.

CBO Cost Estimate for the Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Enhancement Act

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) published a cost estimate for the Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Enhancement Act (S.1570). The bill would require the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to issue or update guidance to minimize the risk of contaminating breast milk, baby formula, and related accessories during the passenger screening process at airports. The bill also would require the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security to audit that guidance. CBO estimates that implementing this provision would not significantly affect the federal budget. Based on the cost of similar activities, CBO estimates that conducting the audit would cost less than $500,000 over the 2024-2029 period and that any related spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.

EEOC Resource Details Pumping at Work Rights

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission released the "Time and Place to Pump at Work: Your Rights" webpage. The webpage is designed for workers and details lactation protections provided through the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and Fair Labor Standards Act. Both laws protect the right of workers to pump during the work day. The resource outlines key details on each law and how they apply to various scenarios.

2024 State of Obesity Report

Trust for America's Health released the "State of Obesity 2024: Better Policies for a Healthier America" report. Obesity and other diet-related diseases are associated with a range of physical and mental health conditions, higher mortality, higher healthcare costs, and productivity losses. A special feature within the report looks at the country's food environment and factors that affect food consumption such as food policy, supply, access, and pricing, and the influence of food advertising on what people eat. The report includes evidence-based policy recommendations for federal, state, and local officials, as well as the healthcare sector and the food industry. The report highlights breastfeeding as an obesity-reducing intervention throughout the report, and recommends expanding federal funding for breastfeeding support programs, including the CDC Hospitals Promoting Breastfeeding program, Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting program, and the WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counseling program.

HHS Final Rule on Head Start Workforce and Program Quality

The Department of Health & Human Services issued the "Supporting the Head Start Workforce and Consistent Quality Programming" final rule. The rule makes regulatory changes to the Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS) to support and stabilize the Head Start workforce and improve the quality of services Head Start programs provide to children and families. These changes include requirements for wages and benefits, breaks for staff, and enhanced support for staff health and wellness. Revisions related to breastfeeding are included in the sections on family support services for health, nutrition, and mental health and prenatal and postpartum information, education, and services.

House Resolution Acknowledging National Birth Center Week Introduced

Representative Kim (R-CA-40) introduced a resolution in the House titled, Acknowledging and thanking America's birth centers for their high quality and high value model of health care, and expressing support for the recognition of the week of September 14 through 20, 2024, as 'National Birth Center Week' (H.Res.1444). The resolution highlights the role of birth center care in reducing preterm and low-birthweight births and cesarean section rates and increasing breastfeeding rates and duration for Medicaid beneficiaries.

State & Community News

Maternal Health Bill Signed Into Law in Massachusetts

Massachusetts Governor Healey signed An Act Promoting Access to Midwifery Care and Out-of-Hospital Birth Options into law. The new law requires Medicaid coverage of pasteurized donor human milk and doula services, establishes a licensing process for certified professional midwives and lactation consultants, and requires screening and treatment for postpartum depression. Read the press release.