Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire - Protect PRAMS Public Comment Template, FY26 Budget Analysis, & 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 - Protect PRAMS Public Comment Template, FY26 Budget Analysis, & More

12/19/2025

Weekly Wire: December 19, 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
- 2023-2024 Annual Report Released
- Protect PRAMS: USBC Public Comment Template
- FY26 Budget Analysis: A Look at Federal Funding for Breastfeeding Programs
- There Is Still Time to Support the USBC in 2025: Make Your Year-End Gift Today!
- Weekly Wire Hiatus & USBC Office Closure
National News
- Celebrating Three Years of the PUMP Act and Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
- New "Doulas Are For Everybody" Campaign
Upcoming Events
News & Views

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

USBC Updates

2023-2024 Annual Report Released

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee is pleased to announce that the 2023-2024 Annual Report has been released and is available on our website. The magazine-style digital annual report provides key insights and data from our accomplishments together in 2023 and 2024. We hope these pages help sustain and inspire you as you continue on your journey of learning, connecting, and dedication to collaborative efforts that create a landscape of breastfeeding support across the U.S. throughout the year to come.

As we reflect on our work this year, we would like to extend the same heartfelt gratitude and sentiment our Executive Director has expressed to our First Food field's network of members, partners, donors, and supporters in this report:

To those reading this who may feel stretched thin, I want you to know: you’re not alone. This season has asked much of us. But we are not without power. We are not without purpose. And we are certainly not without each other.

Let this report serve as a reminder:

That we are part of something greater than any one person or institution.

That rest, joy, and collective care are not distractions from the work, they are the work.

That our communities deserve systems rooted in justice and liberation, not control.

And that this movement breathes because of people like you.

Thank you for walking with us. Thank you for believing in the world we are building, together.

With Love, Strength, and Solidarity,

Jennifer Day
Executive Director
United States Breastfeeding Committee

Protect PRAMS: USBC Public Comment Template

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee has developed a public comment template to support the field in responding to a federal request for comment on extending the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) data collection. PRAMS is one of the only population-based data systems that captures breastfeeding and lactation-related experiences beyond the hospital stay. Public comments are a key part of the federal review process and help demonstrate the real-world utility of PRAMS data. The template includes framing language and guidance for adding jurisdiction or organization-specific examples, which strengthen the persuasive value of comments. Organizations and individuals are encouraged to utilize the template and submit comments that demonstrate why PRAMS data collection is essential for monitoring breastfeeding trends and informing policy and programmatic decisions at the state and local levels. Comments are due by Tuesday, January 20.

FY26 Budget Analysis: A Look at Federal Funding for Breastfeeding Programs

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee published a blog post, "Federal Funding for Breastfeeding Programs: Fiscal Year 2026 Update." Appropriations for breastfeeding have helped build and strengthen critical programs and initiatives to improve maternity care practices, increase access to peer & professional support, ensure continuity of lactation care, increase support for lactating employees, and address disparities in breastfeeding rates. Most funding relevant to the lactation field is found in the Labor–Health and Human Services (Labor–HHS) and Agriculture appropriations bills. Our new blog post details where key funding proposals that support breastfeeding stand in the FY 2026 Budget.

There Is Still Time to Support the USBC in 2025: Make Your Year-End Gift Today!

As we approach the end of the year, we’re grateful for every person who joined us in our mission to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding. Because of your generosity, the USBC continues to grow a national movement grounded in equity, connection, and collective action. You’ve helped families, advocates, and communities thrive. Our Together We Thrive campaign celebrates the collective strength that makes change possible—and there’s still time to join in before year’s end. Make your one-time or recurring donation today!

Weekly Wire Hiatus & USBC Office Closure

The Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire newsletter will be on hiatus for two weeks, beginning the week of Monday, December 22. The USBC office is closed for a winter break and reset from Monday, December 22, through Friday, January 2, returning to work on Monday, January 5, 2026.

Wishing you and your loved ones a joyful holiday season and a safe, healthy, and happy start to the new year!

National News

Celebrating Three Years of the PUMP Act and Pregnant Workers Fairness Act

Monday, December 29 marks three years since the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act and Pregnant Workers Fairness Act were signed into law. The PUMP Act expanded federal protection of the right to break time and a private space to nearly all workers and makes it possible for an employee to file a lawsuit against an employer that violates the law. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act gave workers the right to receive reasonable accommodations for pregnancy, childbirth recovery, and related medical conditions, including lactation. To celebrate this momentous occasion, the USBC invites you to help spread the word about these important protections:

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee:
- “Understanding Protections for Pregnant and Lactating Workers”
- "The Story of the PUMP Act's Passage into Law"
U.S. Department of Labor: "FLSA Protections to Pump at Work"
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: "What You Should Know About the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act"

New "Doulas Are For Everybody" Campaign

HealthConnect One announced the launch of the "Doulas Are For Everybody" campaign. This new campaign is part of a larger mission to shift the story around birth work, elevate Black, Brown, and Indigenous doulas, and show that community-based doulas belong on every care team. The campaign is being piloted via the Doula Cooperative of Rochester in New York, where local doulas and community partners are leading the cooperative. Learn more on the campaign website.