Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire - Introducing the 2025-2026 USBC Board of Directors & 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.

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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 - Introducing the 2025-2026 USBC Board of Directors & more

10/6/2025

Weekly Wire: October 3, 2025

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
- Introducing the 2025-2026 USBC Board of Directors!
- It's Cartober! Donate Your Old Vehicle & Support the USBC
National News
- Government Shutdown: What This Means for the Field
Funding Opportunities
Upcoming Events
News & Views
Journal Publications

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

USBC Updates

Introducing the 2025-2026 USBC Board of Directors!

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee is thrilled to introduce the 2025-2026 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 also extends a sincere thank you to our outgoing Board members Arissa Palmer, Petrichor Kneeland-Campbell, Pauline Sakamoto, and Jennie Toland for their dedication and service to the USBC. We are incredibly grateful for their time, talent, and resources during their terms.

It's Cartober! Donate Your Old Vehicle & Support the USBC

Give your car new purpose this Cartober! The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee partners with CARS to turn old vehicles into tax-deductible donations for the USBC. Donate your old car, truck, RV, motorcycle, or boat to the USBC and help make a difference today. Funds from your donation help us continue to drive collaborative change for policy and practices that create a landscape of breastfeeding support across the United States. Learn more and schedule your donation pick-up today.

National News

Federal Government Shutdown Puts Discretionary Programs at Risk

With no appropriations passed for Fiscal Year 2026, the federal government shut down on Wednesday, October 1, halting discretionary and other non-essential federal activities. Programs that rely on discretionary funding are especially vulnerable, including critical initiatives that support maternal and child health. The only line item in the federal budget explicitly dedicated to breastfeeding support is discretionary, putting the CDC’s Hospitals Promoting Breastfeeding program at risk of interruption or delay in funding. Many other research, support, and technical assistance programs and grants that impact lactation and perinatal care also depend on annual appropriations and could be paused or delayed. This includes the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, which is vulnerable to disruption because current federal reserves can support it only temporarily. The extent of the impacts will hinge on the duration of the shutdown—the longer it lasts, the more disruptions will occur. Even short-term interruptions can create service gaps, staffing uncertainty, and delays in grant cycles. The USBC is monitoring developments closely and will share updates on how the shutdown is affecting the lactation field, as well as opportunities for action. Detailed information on federal funding for breastfeeding can be found on the "Federal Appropriations for Breastfeeding" webpage. Highlights from the field include: