Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire - Special Section on Tax Exemptions for Lactation Supplies, ABM Position Statement, & more

In this issue:

• USBC Updates
  • Welcoming New USBC Member Organizations: Rochester Regional Health Healthy Living Program & South Mississippi Breastfeeding Coalition
  • USBC Supports...
• Special Section on Tax Exemptions for Lactation Supplies
• National News
  • ABM Position Statement on Exclusive Breastfeeding and Avoidance of Underfeeding and Overfeeding 
  • Report on Law and Policy Considerations of Establishing Tribal Maternity Mortality Review
  • White House Fact Sheet on the Make America Healthy Again Commission
  • Nonprofit Backbone & Governance Tool: Responding to Threats and Challenges Planning Tool
• State & Community News
  • BMBFA Resources on Doula Reimbursement and Integration in Michigan
  • Hawaii Bill Introduced to Provide Lactation Protections for Students
  • Oklahoma Bill Introduced to Authorize Breastfeeding of Children in Foster Care
  • Texas Bill Introduced to Designate May as Necrotizing Enterocolitis and Breastfeeding Awareness Month
• 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

Welcoming New USBC Member Organizations: Rochester Regional Health Healthy Living Program & South Mississippi Breastfeeding Coalition

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee is thrilled to welcome 18 organizations to the USBC member network as of January 2025! Each edition of the Weekly Wire newsletter is highlighting two of the new member organizations, presented in alphabetical order. Access the archive to review past editions and learn about the new member organizations. The USBC warmly welcomes all new and returning member organizations to our table! This week we are highlighting the Rochester Regional Health Healthy Living Program and the South Mississippi Breastfeeding Coalition.

The Rochester Regional Health Healthy Living Program provides community lactation resources by offering a Baby Café for pregnant and breastfeeding moms. This drop-in group is a safe space for networking and gaining support from fellow breastfeeding moms and lactation support providers.  

The mission of the South Mississippi Breastfeeding Coalition is to promote and protect breastfeeding by providing support, advocacy and resources for a healthier South Mississippi community. Founded in 2017, the coalition maintains a resource directory for South Mississippi families and provides networking and learning opportunities for infant and maternal health professionals. 

USBC Supports...

Trust for America's Health: "Prevention Fund Letter to Congress"

USBC Insight: This organizational sign-on opportunity requests Congress to fully fund the Prevention and Public Health Fund (PPHF), which has been mentioned as a potential offset in a forthcoming budget reconciliation package. The USBC supports fully funding the PPHF because it sustains key CDC breastfeeding efforts such as the Hospitals Promoting Breastfeeding Program, the REACH program, and the National Early Child Care Collaboratives project.

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Special Section on Tax Exemptions for Lactation Supplies

Since 2011, the Internal Revenue Service has held that expenses paid for breast pumps and supplies that assist lactation are deductible medical expenses. To improve access to breastfeeding supplies, several states have passed legislation to exempt these products from sales tax, and many state policymakers have introduced legislation to implement exemptions in their state. Highlights from the field in this policy area include:

Alabama: Senator Orr introduced Senate Bill 159. The bill would exempt from sales and use tax certain baby supplies purchased for personal use, including breast pumps and breast milk pumping equipment.

Kentucky: Representative Brown introduced House Bill 122. The bill would exempt from sales and use tax certain baby and personal care products, including breast pumps and breast pump collection and storage supplies.

Maine: Senator Rotundo introduced Legislative Document 145. The bill would exempt from sales and use tax certain items of durable medical equipment, including breast pumps and breast pump replacement parts, breast pump collection and storage supplies, and breast pump kits.

Michigan: Representative Schmaltz introduced House Bill 4058. The bill would exempt from sales tax specific baby care items, including breast pumps and breast pump collection and storage supplies.

New York: Assemblymember Forrest introduced Assembly Bill 2147. The bill would exempt from sales tax breast pumps, breast pump replacement parts, breast pump collection and storage supplies, and breast pump kits purchased by individuals for home use.

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National News

 ABM Position Statement on Exclusive Breastfeeding and Avoidance of Underfeeding and Overfeeding 

The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine released the position statement, "Recommendation for Exclusive Breastfeeding: Avoidance of Underfeeding and Overfeeding." The statement asserts ABM's recommendation for exclusive breastfeeding as the optimal method of feeding for the first 6 months after birth and recommends assessment and prevention of underfeeding and overfeeding infants in the context of skilled breastfeeding management. The statement offers recommendations for additional breastfeeding and lactation support, assessment, and management to avoid suboptimal breast milk intake or underfeeding, noting that most of the use of commercial milk formula is not medically necessary, and exposes the infant to increased risk of disease and overfeeding. Media highlights include:

• Inside ABM: "Recommendation for Exclusive Breastfeeding: Q&A with the Lead Author"

Report on Law and Policy Considerations of Establishing Tribal Maternity Mortality Review

The National Indian Health Board published the white paper, "Tribal Maternal Mortality Review: Law and Policy Considerations." Over the past five years, in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Indian Health Board has held several national convenings to explore Tribal maternal mortality review. The United States has invested in Maternal Mortality Review Committees (MMRCs) as a primary strategy for improving maternal health. However, rates of maternal deaths continue to worsen, particularly among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) persons birth givers and the current MMRC models are not meeting the needs of Tribal communities. Establishing Tribal maternal mortality review programs that deeply understand the cultural and historical context of AI/AN persons could substantially improve the development of effective recommendations for improving maternal health outcomes in Indian Country. This report looks at key themes that emerged from the convenings and serves as an introduction to some of the law and policy issues that a Tribal organization may need to consider when starting a maternal mortality review.

White House Fact Sheet on the Make America Healthy Again Commission

The White House released the "Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Establishes the Make America Healthy Again Commission." President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order establishing the President’s Make America Healthy Again Commission, which is tasked with investigating and addressing the root causes of America’s escalating health crisis, with an initial focus on childhood chronic diseases. The fact sheet breaks down the purpose of the Commission and the timeline the Commission will work around to produce an assessment and strategy to improve the health of America's children.

USBC Insight: Breastfeeding is proven to reduce the risk of a number of the chronic health conditions in childhood addressed by the Commission, including asthma, obesity, and diabetes. Investing in breastfeeding and lactation support represents a powerful investment in public health and reducing childhood chronic disease.

Nonprofit Backbone & Governance Tool: Responding to Threats and Challenges Planning Tool

The Collective Impact Forum released the new "Responding to Threats and Challenges Planning Tool" to help organizations and collective impact networks navigate new challenges. The tool was designed to support conversations, alignment, and decision-making for collaboratives and teams so that people can better understand their core commitments and act on them during a rapidly changing environment.

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State & Community News

 BMBFA Resources on Doula Reimbursement and Integration in Michigan

The Black Mothers Breastfeeding Association released three new publications related to doula support in Michigan: 

• The Michigan Community-Based Safety Net Funding Brief advocates for a transformative approach to financing community-based doula care that ensures long-term sustainability and equitable access, particularly for traditionally marginalized communities. Designed for philanthropists, policymakers, and community-led initiatives, this brief provides actionable strategies to create a just and sustainable system where high quality doula care is available to all, regardless of race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status.
• The Michigan Doula Best Practice Guide is designed to support the expansion of the doula workforce across Michigan by providing guidance on workforce development and the integration of doulas into federally qualified health centers and community-based organizations. With Medicaid reimbursement now available for doula services, more organizations can incorporate doulas into maternal health programs, increasing access to perinatal support.
• The Michigan Doula Medicaid Provider Toolkit is a practical resource designed to support doulas in navigating the Medicaid provider enrollment and reimbursement process.

Hawaii Bill Introduced to Provide Lactation Protections for Students

Hawaii Senator Lee introduced Senate Bill 1010. The bill would clarify and strengthen Hawaii’s protections against discrimination based on pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, including lactation, for students of public schools, public charter schools, and the University of Hawaiʻi. The bill would also require the specified educational institutions to provide a private, clean, non-bathroom lactation space for students.

Oklahoma Bill Introduced to Authorize Breastfeeding of Children in Foster Care

Oklahoma Senator Dossett introduced Senate Bill 764. The bill would allow a child under age two who has been placed in foster care by court order to be breastfed by a lactating foster parent with authorization from the Department of Human Services and after obtaining written informed consent from the biological parent of the child, if obtaining such consent is practicable.

Texas Bill Introduced to Designate May as Necrotizing Enterocolitis and Breastfeeding Awareness Month

Texas Representative Harris Davila introduced House Concurrent Resolution 56. The bill would designate the month of May as Necrotizing Enterocolitis and Breastfeeding Awareness Month as a means of educating the public about the illness and the importance of breastfeeding as a preventative measure.

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Funding Opportunities

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: "Local Data for Equitable Communities: Call for Proposals." Application deadline: Tuesday, March 18.

Santa Fe Community Foundation: "Spring Community Grants." Application deadline: Sunday, March 9.

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Upcoming Events

Wednesday, March 12:

•  Breastfeeding Family Friendly Communities: "BFFC implementation Leaders: Collaborative Round Table"

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News & Views

 Breastfeeding Family Friendly Communities:

• "Advancing Breastfeeding Support in the Sandhills Collaborative"
• "Breastfeeding-Related Literature and Step 10: Incorporating Chest/Breastfeeding into Education"
• "Franklin County: Progress on the Path to a Breastfeeding Family Friendly Community"

France 24: "Breastfeeding or baby formula? Fighting pushing marketing of breastmilk substitutes"

Mississippi Today: "USM professor: Time is now for paid family leave for state employees"

Senator Andy Kim: "Senator Andy Kim Pushes for Increased Wages and Paid Leave at Nomination Hearing for Labor Secretary"

Source NM: "Substitute paid family and medical leave bill narrowly passes second House committee"

U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education Labor & Pensions: "Chair Cassidy, Ranking Member Sanders Announce Subcommittee Assignments for the 119th Congress"

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Journal Publications

BMC Public Health: "Fathers' work leave and infant breastfeeding in a state-representative sample of fathers in Georgia, United States" Media highlight:

• Medical Xpress: "Longer paternity leave is linked to longer infant breastfeeding"

JAMA Pediatrics: "Sudden Unexpected Infant Death and Disparities in Infant Mortality in the US, 1999-2022"

Journal of Food Composition and Analysis: "US infant formulas contain primarily added sugars: An analysis of infant formulas on the US market" Media highlight:

• KU News: "Report reveals high levels of added sugar in US infant formula despite medical recommendations"