Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire - Sign-On Letter Calling on 119th Congress to Support Breastfeeding, Welcoming New USBC Member Organizations, & more

In this issue:

• USBC Updates
  • Organizational Action Opportunity: Sign-On Letter Calling on 119th Congress to Support Breastfeeding
  • Celebrating the Anniversary of the PUMP Act and PWFA
  • Welcoming New USBC Member Organizations: Ancient Wisdom Birth Services and Angels Protection, Inc. 
  • Breastfeeding Policy Map Updated with New Bills Introduced in 2025
• Special Section on Paid Leave
• National News
  • Federal Budget Update
  • Guidance for Health Care Providers on Supporting Patient Access to Workplace Accommodations
  • Sample Letter For Employees Requesting Lactation Accommodations
  • Scientific Report of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee
  • BMHW25 Theme Announcement
  • National Day of Racial Healing
• State & Community News
  • Missouri Bill Introduced to Require Lactation Accommodations for Students
  • South Carolina Bill Introduced to Require Insurer Coverage of Lactation Support for State Employees
  • Texas Bill Introduced to Require Lactation Spaces in Public Buildings
• Action Opportunities
• Funding Opportunities
• Upcoming Events
• News & Views
• Journal Publications

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

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USBC Updates

Organizational Action Opportunity: Sign-On Letter Calling on 119^th Congress to Support Breastfeeding

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee is coordinating an organizational sign-on letter welcoming the new Congress and educating them on the policy changes breastfeeding families need most. The 119^th Congressional Session has begun, and this session's cohort of Senators and Representatives are busy setting up their offices, defining their agendas for the year, and introducing legislation. The joint letter provides a roadmap for policymakers to advance support for breastfeeding this session and will be delivered to all 535 Senators and Representatives. Add your organization to the letter by Friday, January 31, to be included in the initial delivery. 

Celebrating the Anniversary of the PUMP Act and Pregnant Workers Fairness Act

December marked the two-year anniversary of the passage of the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act and Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. The PUMP Act expanded the right to break time and a private space to nearly all workers and made 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. View the PUMP Act Implementation Resources webpage for helpful resources for employees and employers. 

Welcoming New USBC Member Organizations: Ancient Wisdom Birth Services and Angels Protection, Inc. 

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee is thrilled to welcome 18 organizations to the USBC member network as of January 2025! In the coming weeks, each edition of the Weekly Wire newsletter will highlight two new member organizations, presented in alphabetical order. The USBC warmly welcomes all of these new member organizations to our table! This week we are highlighting Ancient Wisdom Birth Services and Angels Protection, Inc. 

Ancient Wisdom Birth Services is a holistic maternal healthcare practice dedicated to empowering families with personalized lactation support, childbirth education, and doula services. They are committed to improving maternal and infant health outcomes through evidence-based, culturally competent care, serving communities in Detroit, Michigan and beyond.

Angels Protection Inc. is a national nonprofit organization based in Pennsylvania dedicated to advancing health equity for mothers, their children, young women, and their families, particularly those aged 13 through 20. They offer maternal and child health programs aimed at addressing health disparities, providing public health education, and ensuring that families in underserved communities receive access to critical health services and resources. Their programs promote equitable access to maternal care and resources like breastfeeding education and support.

Breastfeeding Policy Map Updated with New Bills Introduced in 2025

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee hosts the Breastfeeding Policy Map, a resource designed to help the lactation field monitor federal and state policy proposals — bills and regulations introduced during the current legislative session but not yet passed. The policies included on the map are curated from government sources, allowing the lactation field to quickly and proactively scan the policy landscape to stay informed about policy opportunities, challenges, and emerging trends. Select a state or issue area to view relevant bills and regulations, including bill status, most recent action, and a link to the full text. The map is up to date as of Saturday, January 4. Please note that the Breastfeeding Policy Map software platform does not currently support policy tracking for U.S. territories, however, the USBC team has and will continue to advocate for that important expansion.

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Special Section on Paid Leave

Access to paid family and medical leave has a significant impact on breastfeeding outcomes. Yet, the United States is one of the only countries in the world without a national paid family and medical leave program, and many workers are not even eligible for unpaid leave through the Family and Medical Leave Act. The USBC and the lactation field have been active in efforts to increase access to paid leave. Highlights from the field on this policy area include: 

• Center for American Progress: The Center for American Progress published "Paid Leave Helps Americans Keep Their Health Insurance When They Need It Most." The report details how workplace leave laws can allow workers to keep their health insurance coverage at crucial moments. 
• Congress: The bipartisan House Paid Family Leave Working released discussion drafts for stakeholder comment. The culmination of the group’s work in the 118^th Congress, the drafts propose two pieces of legislation to increase access to paid leave. The proposed Paid Family Leave Public-Private Partnerships Act would provide guidance and incentives for states to establish their own paid family leave programs using a public-private partnership model. The proposed Interstate Paid Leave Action Network Act (I-PLAN Act) would establish a convening body and process to enable states to coordinate and harmonize benefits. Interested stakeholders may submit written comments to [email protected] by Friday, January 10, 2025.
• Indiana:
  • Indiana State Senator Randolph introduced Indiana Senate Bill 29. The bill would require the Indiana Department of Insurance to establish a voluntary family leave insurance program. 
  • Indiana State Senator Pol introduced Indiana Senate Bill 115. The bill would establish a state paid family and medical leave program in Indiana, providing up to 12 weeks of paid leave. The program would be funded with appropriations from the general assembly and payroll contributions.
• Maryland: Maryland Senator Beidle introduced Maryland Senate Bill 225. The bill would require the Maryland Department of Labor to adopt regulations establishing an optional enrollment program governing the participation of self-employed individuals in Maryland’s Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program.
• Oklahoma:
  • Oklahoma State Senator Boren introduced Oklahoma Senate Bill 87. The bill amends existing law by expanding the maternity leave program for state employees to parental leave accessible to both parents. 
  • Oklahoma State Senator Dossett introduced Oklahoma Senate Bill 254. The bill would authorize the Oklahoma Department of Labor to perform an actuarial study on establishing a state paid family and medical leave insurance program.
  • Oklahoma State Senator Dossett introduced Oklahoma Senate Bill 277. The bill would create the Oklahoma State Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Act, providing up to 16 weeks of paid leave per calendar year for eligible employees.  

Paid Leave News & Views:

• Louisville Public Media: "Beshear announces six week paid leave program for Kentucky state employees"
• The Hill: "Lawmakers unveil draft paid family leave bills"
• Quartz: "Starbucks is tripling its parental leave for U.S. baristas"

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National News

Federal Budget Update

The House and Senate passed and the President signed the Continuing Appropriations and Other Matters Act, 2025 (H.R.9494). Known as a continuing resolution, the bill gives policymakers additional time to negotiate and pass the Fiscal Year 2025 appropriations bills, preventing a government shutdown that would have otherwise occurred on Friday, December 20. The continuing resolution provides funding for federal agencies through Friday, March 28.

USBC Insight: Detailed information on how the federal budget impacts the lactation field can be found on the Federal Appropriations for Breastfeeding webpage. Urge your legislators to prioritize funding for breastfeeding with the "Tell Congress: Invest in Breastfeeding" action tool. 

Guidance for Health Care Providers on Supporting Patient Access to Workplace Accommodations

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released the "Helping Patients Deal with Pregnancy– and Childbirth– related Limitations and Restrictions at Work Under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act" guidance document. The document contains information for health care providers helping their patients obtain pregnancy and childbirth-related accommodations in the workplace under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA). The resource provides information on the law, examples of reasonable accommodations, and guidance on providing documentation to support a patient's accommodation request. 

Sample Letter For Employees Requesting Lactation Accommodations

A Better Balance released "Sample Letter to Give Your Employer Requesting Lactation Accommodations." Pregnant and breastfeeding employees can utilize the sample letter to request workplace lactation accommodations, tailoring the letter as needed. 

Scientific Report of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee

The 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee released the "Scientific Report of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee" and submitted it to the Secretaries of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The departments have opened a public comment period that closes on Monday, February 10, to collect input from the public on the Scientific Report. The comments received will be used to inform the development of the next edition of the Dietary Guidelines.

USBC Insight: Every five years, the Department of Health and Human Services releases updated Dietary Guidelines, which provide the basis for federal nutrition programs and recommendations. The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines included for the first time ever, populations under the age of 2 and those who are pregnant or lactating.

National Day of Racial Healing 

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation is celebrating the National Day of Racial Healing on Tuesday, January 21. The annual event provides an opportunity to bring all people together in their shared humanity and inspire collective action to create a more just and equitable world. Racism affects our communities, children, and the systems we all rely on. Visit the Take Action webpage to access the 2025 action kit, conversation guides, and event and activity ideas.

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State & Community News

Missouri Bill Introduced to Require Lactation Accommodations for Students

Missouri Senator Washington introduced Missouri Senate Bill 343. The bill would require public schools and charter schools to provide reasonable accommodations for lactating students, including, but not limited to, a reasonable amount of time and access to private spaces for breastfeeding or expressing breast milk, as well as access to facilities for cleaning and securely storing breast pump equipment.

South Carolina Bill Introduced to Require Insurer Coverage of Lactation Support for State Employees

South Carolina Representative Gilliard introduced South Carolina House Bill 3243. The bill would require the State Health Plan to provide coverage for lactation care and services for six months after childbirth without cost-sharing. The State Health Plan provides coverage to all active and retired employees of this State and its public school districts, and their spouses and other dependents.

Texas Bill Introduced to Require Lactation Spaces in Public Buildings

Texas Representative Goodwin introduced Texas House Bill 1558. The bill would provide a non-bathroom location in the capitol where a member of the public or an employee can express breast milk, require buildings regularly occupied by members of the public that are under construction or being renovated to include a lactation space, and provide paid time off once a month for state employees to donate breast milk.

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Action Opportunities

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality: "Nominate a New U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Member." Nominations deadline: Saturday, March 15.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture: "Public Comments on the Scientific Report of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee." Comments deadline: Monday, February 10.

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Funding Opportunities

New York Health Foundation: "Request for Proposals: Advancing Maternal Health Equity Through Primary and Preventive Care." Letter of Inquiry deadline: Friday, January 10.

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Upcoming Events

Tuesday, January 14:

• U.S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau: "Workplace Protections for Working Mothers"

Thursday, January 16:

• U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Department of Labor: "Federal Agencies to Host Free Webinar Focused on Resources for Employers and Employees"

Tuesday, January 28:

• National Collaborative for Infants & Toddlers: "Paid Family and Medical Leave 101"

Monday, February 3 - Friday, February 7:

• Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) Minority Colleges, Universities and Community Colleges Technical Assistance Initiative: "Federal Grants Bootcamp"

Friday, February 7:

•  BreastfeedLA: "Milk Money: The Corporate Hijack of Black Breastfeeding"

Thursday, February 20:

• National Collaborative for Infants & Toddlers: "Paid Family and Medical Leave State Policy Landscape"

On-Demand:

•  Michigan Breastfeeding Network, Great Lakes Breastfeeding Webinars: "Skin to Skin is Not Universal: Teaching Equity"

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News & Views

National Association of Women in Construction: "What the Federal PUMP Act Means for Female Builders"

NOLA: "Sharing 'liquid gold' is a gamechanger for premature infants in Louisiana"

U.S. Department of Labor: "US Department of Labor recovers $45K in penalties from Napa restaurant for reckless child labor law violations"

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Journal Publications

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality: "Importance of Following Safe Practices for Infant Feeding and Handling Expressed Breast Milk" 

Pediatrics: "Breastfeeding Trends Following the US Infant Formula Shortage" Media highlights:

• HealthDay: "Breastfeeding Initiation Rates Increased During 2022 Infant Formula Crisis"

International Breastfeeding Journal: "The role of paternal support in breastfeeding outcomes: a meta-analytic review"