Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire - Special Section on Incarceration & Breastfeeding Support, New Individual Action Opportunity, & more

In this issue:

• USBC Updates
  • Individual Action Opportunity: Tell Congress to Prioritize Breastfeeding!
  • Welcoming New USBC Member Organizations: Project Milk Mission & Reno County Breastfeeding Coalition 
  • You Can Make A Difference By Donating Your Old Car This Tax Season
• Special Section on Incarceration & Breastfeeding Support
• National News
  • Issue Brief Stresses Importance of Protections Under PWFA Amid Threats to Final Rule
  • CBO Cost Estimate for the Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Enhancement Act
  • Report Spotlights Unique Needs of Youth Workers on Paid Leave
• State & Community News
  • New Jersey Bill Introduced to Increase Family Leave Insurance Benefits and Leave Duration for Child Bonding
  • Iowa Bill Introduced to Provide Lactation Protections for Students at State Institutions of Higher Learning
• 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

Individual Action Opportunity: Tell Congress to Prioritize Breastfeeding!

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee launched an individual action tool, "Urge Congress to Support Breastfeeding During the 119th Congress." The 119th congressional session is underway and it's important that legislators hear from constituents about the policy priorities that breastfeeding families most urgently need. Please take a moment to use our easy action tool to call on your senators and representatives to take action for breastfeeding.

As part of the Welcome Congress campaign, this week the USBC also delivered the organizational Welcome Congress sign-on letter to the offices of every Senator and Representative. Organizations can still sign on on a rolling basis to be included in future deliveries. 

Welcoming New USBC Member Organizations: Project Milk Mission & Reno County Breastfeeding Coalition 

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 Project Milk Mission and the Reno County Breastfeeding Coalition.

Project Milk Mission is dedicated to evidence-based and culturally inclusive lactation care counseling. Their team of diverse certified lactation counselors supports clients every step of the way during their lactation journey. They offer lactation classes, one-on-one lactation support, and a parent support group to communities across Ohio.  

The Reno County Breastfeeding Coalition is helping build a successful group of resources to support breastfeeding moms and their families, in Reno County, Kansas. Their goal is to improve exclusive breastfeeding rates in Reno County. 

You Can Make A Difference By Donating Your Old Car This Tax Season

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee partners with CARS to turn old vehicles into tax-deductible donations for the USBC. By donating your old vehicle, you will also be supporting our mission for thriving families and communities nationwide. CARS has made the donation process seamless from start to finish with experts who are prepared to handle all the details for you. Not only does your donation make it possible to continue advocating for breastfeeding protections, but it may be tax-deductible for you, too. Visit our Ways to Give webpage to get started with the process!

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Special Section on Incarceration & Breastfeeding Support

Pregnant and postpartum incarcerated mothers face unique challenges that make them less likely to receive the adequate prenatal and lactation support needed to provide their babies with the healthiest start in life. Existing and emerging programs and policies are developed to bridge the gaps and ensure that a mother's expressed breast milk can reach her infant, even when they are separated by incarceration. 

• Connecticut: Senate Bill 210 was introduced to require the Department of Correction to adopt a policy permitting lactating persons who are incarcerated to breastfeed their infants during visits.
• Delaware: State Representative Neal introduced House Bill 3. The bill would create a breastfeeding and lactation program within the Department of Correction (DOC) to provide lactation support to women in DOC custody and to publish an annual report regarding the number of participants in the program and the nature of services provided. The bill would allow incarcerated women to express and collect breast milk for later retrieval and delivery to an infant or toddler. The bill also requires the DOC to provide nutrition information and a meal plan specific to pregnant, post-partum, or lactating women, based on national best practices.
• M3: Mama's Mobile Milk (M3), a Michigan-based program shared a press release announcing the launch of a human milk delivery service that supports incarcerated birthing mothers in Michigan. This new program will allow M3 to partner with the Michigan Department of Corrections to address the critical issue of maternal-infant separation and ensure that incarcerated mothers can continue providing their own milk to their infants.
• New York: State Senator Salazar introduced Senate Bill 2666. The bill would require the provision of breast pumps to certain incarcerated birth parents and would allow children to remain with their incarcerated birth parent for a period of time.

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National News

Issue Brief Stresses Importance of Protections Under PWFA Amid Threats to Final Rule

The National Partnership for Women & Families issued an issue brief, "Attacks on the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act Threaten Nearly 3 Million Pregnant Workers." The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) ensures that pregnant workers are entitled to basic, reasonable accommodations they may need to protect their health. Despite strong bipartisan support for the passage of the PWFA, the law is being challenged by lawsuits. This brief breaks down who the efforts to overturn or undercut the PWFA are putting at risk and stresses the importance of defending pregnant workers' rights and ensuring the law is strongly enforced. 

CBO Cost Estimate for the Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Enhancement Act

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) published a cost estimate for the Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Enhancement Act (S. 260). The BABES Enhancement Act would build on the BABES Act by directing the TSA to issue guidance to ensure the hygienic handling of breast milk. CBO estimates that implementing this provision would not significantly affect the federal budget. Based on the cost of similar activities, CBO estimates that conducting the audit would cost less than $500,000 over the 2025-2030 period and that any related spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.

Report Spotlights Unique Needs of Youth Workers on Paid Leave

A Better Balance, The Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), and The National Collaborative for Transformative Youth Policy released a joint report, "Young Workers Speak Out: New Perspectives on The Need for Paid Leave." The report offers an in-depth case study analysis of young workers, aged 18 to 30, in the United States and their paid leave needs. The findings show that youth in America, especially in regions like the South with high populations of Black and Brown young people, desperately need policies that provide adequate and accessible paid leave from employment.

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State & Community News

New Jersey Bill Introduced to Increase Family Leave Insurance Benefits and Leave Duration for Child Bonding

New Jersey Assemblywoman Muñoz introduced Assembly Bill 5208. The bill would increase the basic family leave insurance weekly benefit payments to 100 percent of a worker’s average weekly wage up to 100 percent of the Statewide average weekly wage. The bill would also increase the maximum duration of family leave time that can be claimed for bonding with newborn or newly adopted children, from 12 to 24 consecutive weeks.

Iowa Bill Introduced to Provide Lactation Protections for Students at State Institutions of Higher Learning

Iowa Senator Taylor introduced Senate Bill 288. The bill would require that institutions of higher education governed by the state board of regents, including certain community colleges, provide reasonable accommodations to students who are pregnant or who have recently given birth. The bill would also require the Iowa Office of Civil Rights to receive complaints from students alleging a violation relating to pregnancy and recent birth accommodations.

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Action Opportunities

 Maine State Breastfeeding Coalition: "Maine State Breastfeeding Coalition (MSBC) Strategic Planning Survey." Survey deadline: n/a.

 National WIC Association: "Support WIC in 2025!" Action deadline: n/a.

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Funding Opportunities

Colorado Gives Foundation: "Food Security Grant Opportunity." Application deadline: Sunday, February 23.

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Upcoming Events

Wednesday, February 26:

•  Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition: "Infant Feeding In Emergencies - KDHE Preparedness BP1 Webinar"

On-Demand:

•  Michigan Breastfeeding Network - Great Lakes Breastfeeding Webinars: "How to Support Breastfeeding for Community Health Workers: Reframing Breastfeeding as a Public Health Imperative"

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News & Views

 Center for Health Equity, Education, & Research: "CHAMPS National Indigenous Lactation Counselor Training in Western Pacific"

 Center for Health Equity, Education, & Research - CHAMPS National Youtube: "CHAMPS National Exclusivity Orb Launch Webinar Recording"

Communique: "Paid leave program marks one year with big impact"

Maryland Department of Labor: "Maryland Department of Labor Proposes Extending Implementation Timeline for Family and Medical Leave Insurance Following Federal Actions Impacting Workers, Employers"

Mississippi Today: "'Secure the bag': Mississippi women want equal pay, paid leave and better health outcomes"

MSN: "Bill would give Illinois mothers paid break to breastfeed, pump"

National Partnership for Women & Families: "Labor Department Guidance Says Workers Can’t Be Forced to Exhaust Their Accrued Paid Leave While on FMLA Leave and Receiving State Paid Leave Benefits"

Patch: "NJ's 1st 'Baby Café' Opens In Camden, Supporting Breastfeeding Parents"

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Journal Publications

Breastfeeding Medicine: "Distinguishing Between Lactation Failure and Breastfeeding Cessation: A Scoping Review"