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  • USBC Membership
    • USBC Member Directory
    • Join USBC
    • Membership Benefits & FAQs
    • Membership Fee Schedules
    • Membership Interest Form
    • Creating Space Scholarship
  • Policy & Actions
    • Constellation Work Groups >
      • Infant & Young Child Feeding in Emergencies Constellation
      • Disrupting Formula Marketing Constellation
      • Lactation Support Providers Constellation
      • Pasteurized Donor Human Milk Constellation
      • Workplace Support Constellation
    • Active Legislation
    • Breastfeeding Policy Map
    • Existing Legislation
    • Federal Policies, Programs, & Initiatives
    • PUMP Act >
      • The PUMP Act Explained
      • PUMP Act Implementation Resources
      • Know Your Rights-PUMP-Act--PWFA
    • Federal Appropriations for Breastfeeding
    • Take Action
    • Letters & Public Comments
  • Resources
    • USBC Directories >
      • USBC Member Directory
      • Affiliated Coalitions Directory
      • Equity Champions Directory
    • Constellation Developed Resources
    • Breastfeeding In Emergencies >
      • Infant Formula Recall and Shortage
    • Lactation Support Provider Training Directory >
      • Lactation Support Providers Pathways
    • Learning Opportunities
    • Monthly Observances
    • Image Gallery Access
    • State Breastfeeding Reports
    • USBC Data Survey
  • News & Events
    • Annual Conference >
      • 2023 NBCC Agenda
      • 2023 Sponsors & Exhibitors
      • 2023 Conference Awardees
    • Events Calendar
    • USBC in the Media
    • USBC News & Blogs
    • Weekly Wire Newsletter
  • About Us
    • About the USBC
    • Explaining our "Why"
    • Our Team
    • Job Opportunities
    • Board of Directors
    • USBC Committees
    • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
    • History
    • Community Agreements & Guidelines
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Weekly Wire Archive

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The WW goes on hiatus several times a year: the weeks of the Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, & New Year's holidays, the weeks before the Presidents Day, Memorial Day, and Labor Day holidays, and the weeks of the USBC membership meetings.

The USBC e-Newsletter, Staying Abreast, is published in a weekly news brief format, called the Weekly Wire (WW). Past issues are archived below.

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Please note: Inclusion of an item in this e-newsletter does NOT imply endorsement or support of such item by the United States Breastfeeding Committee, unless specifically noted.

The WW goes on hiatus several times a year: the weeks of the Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, & New Year's holidays, the weeks before the Presidents Day, Memorial Day, and Labor Day holidays, and the weeks of the USBC membership meetings.

Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire - Access to Donor Milk Act Introduced and more

9/22/2023

 

In this issue:

  • USBC Updates
    • USBC Joining Healthy Horizons Webinar on PWFA
    • Letdown Podcast Features Interview of USBC Staff Members
    • Blog Celebrating National Breastfeeding Month
    • Comments Submitted on NASEM Committee Examining Infant Formula Regulation
    • Weekly Wire Hiatus
    •      USBC Supports...
  • National News
    • Bipartisan, Bicameral Introduction of Access to Donor Milk Act
    • NCSL Report on Supporting Health in the Postpartum Period
    • National Infant Mortality Awareness Month 
  • Action Opportunities
  • Funding Opportunities
  • Upcoming Events
  • News & Views
  • Journal Publications

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


USBC Updates

USBC Joining Healthy Horizons Webinar on PWFA

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee is joining Healthy Horizons and the Center for Worklife Law for a webinar, "Navigating the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA)," on Thursday, October 19, from 3-4 p.m. ET. Join this session to discover how to create a supportive workplace for expectant employees while ensuring compliance with the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA). The webinar is useful for human resources and facilities professionals committed to fostering inclusivity and fairness in the workplace.

Letdown Podcast Features Interview of USBC Staff Members

U.S. Breastfeeding Committee staff members Camille Abbe, Senior Campaign and Convening Manager, and Cheryl Lebedevitch, Senior Policy and Communications Manager, were featured in an interview on the Letdown Podcast. The episode discusses the USBC journey bringing organizations together for collaborative work, shares information on the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, and celebrates the organization's 25th birthday.

Blog Celebrating National Breastfeeding Month

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee published a blog post: "Reflecting on National Breastfeeding Month 2023 Wins." The blog lifts up National Breastfeeding Month highlights, including the first-ever Semana de La Lactancia Latina and the Times Square video billboard advertisement and event. Thank you to everyone who engaged with National Breastfeeding Month celebrations and contributed to the month's success! 

Comments Submitted on NASEM Committee Examining Infant Formula Regulation

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee submitted comments to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine on the composition of the ad hoc committee tasked with completing a project titled, "Challenges in Supply, Market Competition, and Regulation of Infant Formula in the United States." The project will examine and report on characteristics of the U.S. infant formula market, challenges in supply or market competition, differences in infant formula marketed in the United States and infant formula marketed in the European Union, and other related information. The committee will produce a report of its findings, conclusions, and recommendations on measures to address supply and market competition in the United States. The USBC comments raise concerns about the conflict of interest of several appointed members, note the lack of representation from parent advocacy organizations and breastfeeding experts, and provide recommendations of individuals and organizations that should be considered for the committee. 

Weekly Wire Hiatus

The Weekly Wire will be on hiatus next week while we are hosting the Fall 2023 USBC Membership Meeting. We look forward to connecting the following week!

USBC Supports...

Congress: Access to Donor Milk Act of 2023 (S. 2819/H.R. 5486)


National News

Bipartisan, Bicameral Introduction of Access to Donor Milk Act

U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) and U.S. Representatives Maria Salazar (R-FL), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), and Stephanie Bice (R-OK) introduced the Access to Donor Milk Act of 2023 (S. 2819/H.R. 5486). The bipartisan legislation would help increase life-saving access to donor milk for more families by:

  • Allowing 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 allowing WIC funds to support donor milk activities in states, tribes, and territories;
  • Providing emergency capacity-building funding ($3 million) for milk banks in the event that there is a rapid increase in demand for donor milk, as occurred during the 2022 formula shortage;
  • Creating a donor milk awareness program at the Department of Health and Human Services ($1 million) to educate the public on donor milk, nonprofit milk banks, and to publicize the need for donor milk; and
  • Requiring that the Secretary of Health and Human Services draft guidance that addresses appropriate standards for collection, processing, handling, transfer, and storage of donor milk and requiring the Secretary to convene a public meeting to inform this guidance.

NCSL Report on Supporting Health in the Postpartum Period

The National Conference of State Legislatures published a report: "Supporting Moms’ Health in the Postpartum Period." The report includes background and state examples of legislative policy options for increasing access to health care services during the postpartum period, including breastfeeding.

National Infant Mortality Awareness Month 

The National Institute for Children's Health Quality (NICHQ) is hosting a National Infant Mortality Awareness Month webpage. The webpage features NICHQ initiatives to reduce infant mortality and includes a social media toolkit with ready-to-share graphics and posts that can be used to raise awareness about infant mortality and make sure that families are equipped with the tools to live healthier lives.

USBC Insight: Breastfeeding plays an essential role in establishing good nutrition and healthy weight, reducing the risk of chronic disease, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and improving infant health outcomes. A recent CDC study of over 3 million U.S. births found that breastfeeding is associated with a 26% reduction in the odds of post-perinatal (between 7-364 days) infant death. 


Action Opportunities

A Better Balance: "Urge Support for Strong Regulations for the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act!"

Indigenous Milk Medicine Collective: "Indigenous Milk Medicine Week 2023 Survey"

National WIC Association: "WIC Full Funding in CR and FY24 Sign-on Letter"

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: "Discrimination on the Basis of Disability in Health and Human Service Programs or Activities"


Funding Opportunities

National Institutes of Health: "Addressing the Impact of Structural Racism and Discrimination on Minority Health and Health Disparities (R01 - Clinical Trial Optional)"

National Institutes of Health: "Intervention Research to Improve Native American Health (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)"

New York Lactation Consultant Association: "NYLCA Equity and  Diversity Scholarship - April 2024"


Upcoming Events

On-Demand:

  • Great Lakes Webinar: "Improving the Circle of Care in Lactation: Who's Really to Blame?"

Thursday, September 28:

  • Maternal Health Learning and Innovation Center: "Building a New Way Forward: The White House Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis"

Tuesday, February 27:

  • U.S. Department of Labor: "PUMP at Work Protections under the Fair Labor Standards Act for Teachers"

News & Views

A Better Balance: "Lighting Up Times Square to Celebrate New Rights for Parents & National Breastfeeding Month!"

 Breastfeeding Family Friendly Communities: "Welcoming Franklin County to the Breastfeeding Family Friendly network!"

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: "Young Children and New Parents in Every State Could Be Turned Away From WIC or Have Their Benefits Cut Under Pending Appropriations Bills"

Chalkbeat: "Without paid parental leave, I went back to teaching three weeks after giving birth"

 CHEER: "Merit Health Central is designated as Baby-Friendly"

Clemson News: "Clemson updates Lactation Support Policy; resources available for employees and student workers"

Every Child Thrives:

  • "Birth Detroit addresses Black infant mortality rate"
  • "Saving babies one ounce at a time"

 Minnesota Breastfeeding Coalition: "Minnesota Breastfeeding Week Proclamation"

National WIC Association: "AHEAD 2.0: Strengthening and Diversifying the WIC Workforce (IBCLC) Subgrant Agency Announcement"

Ohio Department of Health: "Breastfeeding Proclamation"

Public Health Institute: "Cherished Futures for Black Moms & Babies is Enhancing Breastfeeding Support in LA to Reduce Infant and Maternal Mortality"

U.S. Department of Labor: "U.S. Department of Labor, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Announce Partnership Agreement to Enhance Outreach, Enforcement"

Wichita State University: "Wichita State University recognized as a Breastfeeding Friendly Campus"


Journal Publications

International Breastfeeding Journal: "Breastfeeding is associated with reduced risks of central obesity and hypertension in young school-aged children: a large, population-based study"

Preventing Chronic Disease: "Public Belief in the Maternal Health Benefits of Breastfeeding — United States, 2018 and 2021"


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