Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire - New Action Tool Urging Congress to Invest in Breastfeeding, Title IX Regulations, & 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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Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire - New Action Tool Urging Congress to Invest in Breastfeeding, Title IX Regulations, & more

4/26/2024

In this issue:

USBC Updates
- Take Action: Ask Congress to Increase FY25 Investments in Breastfeeding
- Your Mother's Day Gifts Can Make a World of Difference
- USBC Shares Collaboration Experiences and Resources at AMCHP Conference
- Call for Resources for AAPI Month
National News
- Department of Education Releases Final Title IX Regulations
- Report on Improving Federal Budgeting for Health Promotion
- NASEM Proceedings of a Workshop Report on Dietary Patterns and Diet-Related Disease Across the Lifespan
State & Community News
- Utah Bill Establishing Grant Program for Education Agencies that Provide Paid Parental Leave Signed Into Law
- Alabama Bill on Paid Parental Leave Introduced
- Louisiana Bill on Paid Parental Leave Introduced
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

Take Action: Ask Congress to Increase FY25 Investments in Breastfeeding

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee launched the "Tell Congress: Invest in Breastfeeding" action tool. Members of the House and Senate appropriations committees are getting started on the Fiscal Year 2025 federal budget and its important that they hear from constituents about the need to invest in breastfeeding. The CDC Hospitals Promoting Breastfeeding program supports a wide range of public health efforts, including improving maternity care practices, increasing access to peer and professional support, ensuring continuity of breastfeeding care, increasing support for breastfeeding employees, and addressing disparities in breastfeeding rates. However, in the past ten years, this federal investment in breastfeeding and human milk feeding has only increased by $2.75 million, falling far short of what is needed. Take action by calling on Congress to increase funding for breastfeeding in the federal budget.

Your Mother's Day Gifts Can Make a World of Difference

Shop the USBC online store to purchase a special gift to honor and celebrate those who hold the nation's youngest in their care. You'll find coffee mugs, tote bags, sweatshirts, t-shirts, and other apparel for the many upcoming spring celebrations, including Mother's Day. A portion of each purchase supports the USBC mission to create a landscape of breastfeeding support across the United States. To make an even bigger difference for moms, babies, and families, shoppers can opt to provide an additional donation at checkout. Thank you for supporting the USBC with your thoughtful gifts!

USBC Shares Collaboration Experiences and Resources at AMCHP Conference

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee Director of Strategic Partnerships, Camille Abbe, and National Policy Director, Cheryl Lebedevitch, joined the Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs 2024 conference to lead a workshop titled "A Collective Impact Approach to Advance Breastfeeding Policy, Systems, and Environments." The workshop described the USBC Collective Impact journey and how the organization brings together diverse multi-sectoral stakeholders for collaborative efforts to address policy, system, and environmental barriers to breastfeeding. The workshop provided useful tools to help organizations bring an equity lens and a whole-hearted approach to collaborative efforts.

Call for Resources for AAPI Month

May Is Asian American And Pacific Islander Heritage Month! During this month, we celebrate the countless contributions of Asian/Pacific Islanders throughout America's history while also growing our appreciation of the spectrum of identities across the Asian/Pacific American communities. Asian/Pacific Americans comprise more than 7% of the U.S. population. Join us in honoring the rich culture of Asians and Pacific Islanders and raising awareness of health disparities. To help us amplify resources and awareness of AAPI Heritage Month, please submit your events and resources for sharing on the USBC website and social media channels.

National News

Department of Education Releases Final Title IX Regulations

The U.S. Department of Education published the final rule on regulations interpreting Title IX of the Education Amendments Act, the federal law prohibiting sex-based discrimination in educational programs receiving federal funding. The regulations clarify and expand important protections for pregnant and parenting students. Students now have the explicit right to reasonable modifications for pregnancy, childbirth, or related conditions, including lactation; are protected from discrimination on the basis of past, potential, or current pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy (abortion, miscarriage, or stillbirth), lactation, recovery, and all related medical conditions; and academic institutions are required to provide students and employees with a clean, non-bathroom space to pump milk or breastfeed. The regulations will go into effect on Thursday, August 1, 2024. Highlights from the field include:

Report on Improving Federal Budgeting for Health Promotion

The Aspen Institute published a report, "Budgeting for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion: Improving the Federal Scorekeeping Process." The report provides recommendations on structural changes to current federal budgeting and scorekeeping practices. These recommendations clarify the value of clinical and population-level programs that elevate health through prevention activities.

USBC Insight: Low breastfeeding rates in the United States cost our nation millions of dollars through higher health systems costs, lost productivity, and higher household expenditures. At the national level, improving breastfeeding practices through programs and policies has been shown to be one of the best investments a country can make, as every dollar invested is estimated to result in a $35 economic return. Organizations are invited to join the sign-on letter calling for increased funding for the CDC Hospitals Promoting Breastfeeding program in Fiscal Year 2025.

NASEM Proceedings of a Workshop Report on Dietary Patterns and Diet-Related Disease Across the Lifespan

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) published a Proceedings of a Workshop report, "Dietary Patterns to Prevent and Manage Diet-Related Disease Across the Lifespan." The report looks at linkages between dietary patterns and diet-related chronic disease across the lifespan, as discussed during a Food Forum Workshop that took place in August 2023. The report examines how diet influences the developmental origins of chronic disease and includes a study on exclusive human milk feeding during the first six months of life.

State & Community News

Utah Bill Establishing Grant Program for Education Agencies that Provide Paid Parental Leave Signed Into Law

Utah Governor Cox signed the Local Education Agency Employee Paid Leave Act (H.B. 192) into law. The bill will create a grant program for local education agencies (LEA) in Utah that have a parental leave policy to offset expenses, including the hiring of a substitute teacher. Qualified programs will have to provide at least three work weeks of paid parental leave and postpartum recovery leave.

Alabama Bill on Paid Parental Leave Introduced

Alabama Senator Figures introduced Alabama Senate Bill 305. The bill would provide employees of local boards of education with twelve weeks of paid parental leave following the birth of a child, placement of a child for adoption, miscarriage, or stillbirth.

Louisiana Bill on Paid Parental Leave Introduced

Louisiana Senator Jenkins introduced Lousiana Senate Bill 426. The bill would provide six weeks of parental leave to school employees before or following the birth of a child, after pregnancy loss, or following placement of a child with the employee for adoption or foster care.