Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire - DONOR Milk Act Introduced, & More

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

Subscribe: visit the signup page
Submit: visit the submission form

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 - DONOR Milk Act Introduced, & More

6/26/2026

Weekly Wire: June 26, 2026

The Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire e-Newsletter is a compendium of news, actions, and resources considered to be of interest or relevance to the breastfeeding field. The newsletter aims to support the USBC mission "To drive collaborative efforts for policy and practices that create a landscape of breastfeeding support across the United States." Included items are submitted for consideration or identified by the USBC e-news team via extensive online review. Whenever possible, the newsletter utilizes language directly from the primary source of an item without additional analysis or edits. In some cases, the USBC offers additional perspectives through the "USBC Insights," media and partner highlights, and the "News & Views" section. Inclusion of an item in the e-newsletter does not imply endorsement or support by the USBC of an item or organization, unless specifically noted.

In this issue:

USBC Updates
- 2026 National Breastfeeding Month Theme & Proclamation Toolkit Reminder
- Weekly Wire Hiatus & USBC Office Closure for Summer Break
National News
- DONOR Milk Act Introduced in House
State & Community News
- California Data Brief: Hospital Practices and Breastfeeding
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

2026 National Breastfeeding Month Theme & Proclamation Toolkit Reminder

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee will celebrate National Breastfeeding Month 2026 under the banner, RISE: Resilience, Interdependence, Self-Determination, Empowerment. This year's theme was crafted to capture the heart and strength of the First Food field. Each word in the acronym was chosen to highlight our network's strengths as we advocate for the policy, systems, and environmental changes necessary to create a landscape of breastfeeding support for every family. Our image centers the sunrise, embodying the enduring spirit of our community.

The 2026 NBM Proclamation Toolkit is also available. This package of resources is designed to ease the process of submitting a request to your state or territory to proclaim August as Breastfeeding Month. The toolkit includes a spreadsheet with links and information on submitting a request, as well as templates for both long and abbreviated proclamations that can be customized for your submission. As a reminder, many states require proclamation requests to be submitted well in advance, so be sure to note the deadlines included in the spreadsheet.

Weekly Wire Hiatus & USBC Office Closure for Summer Break

The Weekly Wire will be on hiatus for two weeks beginning the week of June 29. The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee office will be closed from Friday, June 26, until Monday, July 6, for summer break. The USBC holds true to the idea that we are stronger together; we believe that taking the time to make memories and develop meaningful connections with family, friends, and ourselves is critical to advancing the First Food Field. We look forward to connecting when we return from hiatus the week of July 13.

National News

DONOR Milk Act Introduced in House

Representative DeLauro (CT-3) introduced the Developing Oversight for Nutrition through the Official Regulation of (DONOR) Milk Act (H.R. 8964). The bill would establish federal FDA oversight of pasteurized donor human milk through annual inspections of nonprofit entities that manufacture, process, pack, or hold pasteurized donor human milk to ensure compliance with food safety and labeling requirements. The bill would also authorize $8 million in funding for compliance grants to help such entities upgrade equipment, obtain certifications, and access food safety quality consultations. Read the press release.

State & Community News

California Data Brief: Hospital Practices and Breastfeeding

The Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health Division (MCAH) of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) released “Hospital Practices and Breastfeeding,” a new data brief that provides information on women and other birthing people’s experiences of breastfeeding-supportive hospital practices. This fact sheet uses 2022 data from the Maternal and Infant Health Assessment (MIHA) survey, a statewide representative survey of individuals with a recent live birth in California, conducted annually since 1999 and linked to birth certificates. The data brief highlights key findings like women who experienced more hospital practices had higher rates of any and exclusive breastfeeding at three months postpartum. Additionally, certain groups of birthing people were less likely to experience all seven practices than were others, including Asian, Black, and Hispanic birthing people and those insured through Medi-Cal.

Action Opportunities

The Network for Public Health Law: "Racial Health Equity Legal and Policy Cohort." Application deadline: Today, Friday, June 26.

Funding Opportunities

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services: "Doula Reimbursement for Independent Skill Enhancement (Doula RISE)." Application deadline: Monday, August 17.

Monetary Investment for Lactation Consultant Certification: "2026 Application Timeline for MILCC Scholarships!" Application deadline: Tuesday, June 30.