Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire - New USBC Staff, Alabama Exempts Breastfeeding Mothers From Jury Duty, & 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 USBC Staff, Alabama Exempts Breastfeeding Mothers From Jury Duty, & more

2/4/2025

In this issue:

USBC Updates
- Introducing New USBC Staff Members
- Call for Submissions: Black History Month & Breastfeeding
- Welcoming New USBC Member Organizations: Mississippi Breastfeeding Coalition and the Native Breastfeeding Coalition of California
International News
- IYCF-E Repository Features New Breastfeeding Publications and Interactive Dashboard
National News
- Administrative Action on Federal Financial Assistance
- House Resolution Introduced to Allow Proxy Voting for Members of Congress Who Are New Parents
- Resolution Designating Maternal Health Awareness Day Introduced
- Black Maternal Health Week Theme Announced
State & Community News
- Alabama Supreme Court Ruling Exempts Breastfeeding Mothers From Jury Duty
- Virginia Bill on Donor Human Milk Banking Operation Requirements and Insurer Coverage Advanced
Action Opportunities
Upcoming Events
News & Views

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

USBC Updates

Introducing New USBC Staff Members

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee is thrilled to announce that our team has expanded! We invite you to join us in warmly welcoming Jacqueline Hammack as National Policy Director and Lydia Cole as Communications Manager. The addition of Jacqueline and Lydia to the team bolsters USBC efforts to drive collaborative efforts for policy and practices that create a landscape of breastfeeding support across the United States. Read about Jacqueline, Lydia, and the entire staff on the USBC Staff Team webpage.

Call for Submissions: Black History Month & Breastfeeding

February is Black History Month! The USBC website hosts a page for the month with a curated selection of infant feeding news and resources. Celebrate breastfeeding during Black History Month with us by sharing relevant materials and tools that can be amplified on the USBC webpage. By working together to raise awareness about Black maternal, infant, and child health and bringing to light community priorities, strengths, and assets, we can better support families and celebrate Black History.

Welcoming New USBC Member Organizations: Mississippi Breastfeeding Coalition and the Native Breastfeeding Coalition of California

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee is thrilled to welcome 18 organizations to the USBC member network as of January 2025! Through the coming weeks, each edition of the Weekly Wire newsletter will highlight two of the new member organizations, presented in alphabetical order. Access the archive to review past editions. The USBC warmly welcomes all new and returning member organizations to our table! This week we are highlighting the Mississippi Breastfeeding Coalition and the Native Breastfeeding Coalition of California.

The mission of the Mississippi Breastfeeding Coalition is to establish breastfeeding as the cultural norm in Mississippi by working collaboratively to promote and support breastfeeding with families, health providers, and communities. The coalition aims to increase the number of skilled lactation professionals in the state and provide and promote the education of health providers to advance Baby-Friendly Initiatives in Mississippi.

The Native Breastfeeding Coalition of California serves to educate, promote, and support breastfeeding and chestfeeding in the Native community by working collaboratively within Native American and surrounding communities to increase rates of breastfeeding/chestfeeding initiation and duration to improve the overall health of Native families.

International News

IYCF-E Repository Features New Breastfeeding Publications and Interactive Dashboard

The Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies (IFE) Core Group updated the "Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies (IYCF-E) Repository" to include an interactive dashboard that allows users to search by keyword and filter by type of publication, countries of interest, and selected topic areas. The repository serves as a virtual library of the most recent peer-reviewed journal articles and findings on infant and young child feeding in emergencies.

National News

Administrative Action on Federal Financial Assistance

The new Presidential term began on Monday, January 20. In the weeks since the inauguration, the federal government has issued a series of executive actions concerning federal financial assistance programs. On Monday, January 27, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued Memorandum M-25-13, directing federal agencies to temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance and to conduct a comprehensive analysis of their programs to identify those potentially affected by the President’s recent executive orders. The directive led to widespread confusion and also faced legal challenges. A judge with the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island issued a temporary restraining order blocking the administration's efforts to freeze payments for grants and other programs.

USBC Insight: The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee is actively monitoring the evolving federal policy landcape. Stay tuned for upcoming editions of the Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire for updates on policy changes impacting the lactation field.

House Resolution Introduced to Allow Proxy Voting for Members of Congress Who Are New Parents

Representative Pettersen (D-CO-7) introduced a House resolution titled "Proxy Voting for New Parents Resolution" (H.Res.23). The resolution would allow proxy voting in the House of Representatives for members who have given birth, members whose spouse has given birth, and pregnant members who are unable to travel safely or have a serious medical condition. The proxy designation would be valid for up to 12 weeks.

USBC Insight: The USBC is committed to bringing the voices of breastfeeding families to the Halls of Congress. In addition to sharing the perspectives and experiences of families from across the United States, the USBC supports the active inclusion of lactating parents at all levels of the policy process, including as elected officials.

Resolution Designating Maternal Health Awareness Day Introduced

Senator Booker (D-NJ) reintroduced "A resolution designating January 23, 2025, as 'Maternal Health Awareness Day '" (S.Res.32). Maternal Health Awareness Day aims to raise awareness about maternal mortality, maternal morbidity, and disparities in maternal health outcomes, while promoting maternal safety. Read the press release.

Black Maternal Health Week Theme Announced

The Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA) announced that the 2025 Black Maternal Health Week (BMHW25) theme will be Healing Legacies: Strengthening Black Maternal Health through Collective Action and Advocacy. Black Maternal Health Week is an annual campaign led by BMMA to raise awareness, foster activism, and build community by amplifying Black mothers' voices, lived experiences, and perspectives. Throughout the week, activities will intentionally focus on community building to drive birth and reproductive justice forward. BMHW25 will take place from Friday, April 11, through Thursday, April 17.

State & Community News

Alabama Supreme Court Ruling Exempts Breastfeeding Mothers From Jury Duty

The Alabama Supreme Court issued an administrative order that allows breastfeeding mothers to be excused from jury duty. This ruling was issued in response to several statements made by mothers in Jefferson County who were dissatisfied with how judges treated them for having their breastfeeding babies with them during jury duty. Media highlights:

Motherly: "Alabama exempts breastfeeding mothers from jury duty—a win for moms everywhere"
NBC 15: "Alabama supreme court grants breastfeeding women exemption from jury duty"

Virginia Bill on Donor Human Milk Banking Operation Requirements and Insurer Coverage Advanced

Senator Carroll Foy introduced and the Virginia Senate passed Senate Bill 1186. The bill would require donor human milk banks to obtain a license from the State Health Commissioner and direct the State Board of Health to establish a regulatory and statutory scheme for the licensure and regulation of donor human milk banks operating or doing business in the Commonwealth. In addition, the bill would require health insurers, corporations providing health care coverage subscription contracts, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for expenses incurred in the provision of pasteurized donor human milk.