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

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

2/23/2024

In this issue:

USBC Updates
- Action Alert: Call on Congress to Include Breastfeeding in the 2024 Federal Budget
- Save the Date for the Virtual 2024 USBC Conference: June 3-5
- Are you Interested in Participating in an Identity Caucus? We Want to Hear From You!
- Celebrating Black History Month with the USBC Black Alliance
Special Section on Tax Exemptions for Lactation Supplies
National News
- New Way to Access Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) Data
- Educational Handout on Dietary Guidelines for Infants and Toddlers
- Join the BMBFA Black Breastfeeding Caucus
State & Community News
- West Virginia Bill Introduced to Require State Buildings to Include a Lactation Space
- California Bill Introduced to Require Pumping Breaks During Court Proceedings
Action Opportunities
Funding Opportunities
Upcoming Events
News & Views
Journal Publications

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

USBC Updates

Action Alert: Call on Congress to Include Breastfeeding in the 2024 Federal Budget

The USBC has issued a call to action, urging individuals to contact their legislators with the "Tell Congress: Invest in Breastfeeding" action tool. Members of Congress have divided funds across the 12 appropriation bills that fund the federal government. With only weeks to go before the latest continuing resolution runs out, policymakers must decide how to allocate those funds to specific programs, including many that provide crucial breastfeeding surveillance and support. Individuals can use the USBC quick action tool to contact their Senators and Representative to urge them to support funding for the CDC Hospitals Promoting Breastfeeding program in Fiscal Year 2024. Even if you've already taken action with us, please take a moment to reach out to your legislators again today.

Save the Date for the Virtual 2024 USBC Conference: June 3-5

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee is thrilled to announce that the annual USBC Conference will be hosted online this year from Monday, June 3, through Wednesday, June 5. The annual National Breastfeeding Conference & Convening (NBCC) brings together a diverse set of clinical, community, advocacy, and research professionals who recognize the public health importance of breastfeeding. This year's virtual event is designed as a workshop-style convening that maximizes capacity-building opportunities along with valuable networking and connection time for attendees. Please save the dates and stay tuned for additional details.

Are you Interested in Participating in an Identity Caucus? We Want to Hear From You!

The USBC released the updated "USBC Identity Caucus Interest Form." Identity Caucuses are safe spaces to establish and nurture connections with people who have a shared identity. We all have a role to play in eliminating disparities in access to lactation-supportive policies, systems, and environments, but our individual identities impact how we experience inequities and the work we must do to address them. While we engage in this important work to advance equity in the First Food field, it's important to have a soft space to land, strategize, and be in community with others with whom you share an identity. We invite those who would like to participate in or support the facilitation of identity caucus groups to complete the interest form.

Celebrating Black History Month with the USBC Black Alliance

The inaugural meeting of the USBC Black Alliance was held this week, featuring a celebration of Black History Month. If you missed this connection opportunity, don't worry, it's not too late to engage! The group will be meeting on the fourth Thursday of even months from 1:30-3 p.m. ET. If you are interested in participating in the USBC Black Alliance, please complete the "USBC Identity Caucus Interest Form."

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 on this policy area include:

Alabama: Alabama State Senator Orr introduced Senate Bill 62. This bill would permanently exempt the purchase of certain baby supplies, baby formula, maternity clothing, and menstrual hygiene products for personal use from sales and use tax, including breast pumps and breast milk pumping products.
Kentucky:
- Kentucky State Representative Bojanowski introduced House Bill 365. The bill would exempt breast pumps, breast pump storage and collection supplies, and breast pump kits from state sales and use tax through July 2028.
- Kentucky State Representative Roberts introduced House Bill 340. The bill would exempt baby bottles, baby wipes, breast pumps, breast pump collection and storage supplies, breast pump kits, diapers, feminine hygiene products, and incontinence products from state sales and use tax through July 2028.
Oklahoma: Oklahoma State Representative Swope introduced House Bill 4126. The bill would permanently exempt certain drugs, diapers and baby wipes, feminine hygiene products, baby bottles, breast milk pumping products, maternity clothing, and postpartum care products from state sales tax.

National News

New Way to Access Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) Data

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Reproductive Health announced that the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) has a new, streamlined process for researchers to access PRAMS data. PRAMS provides data on maternal attitudes, experiences, and behaviors before, during, and shortly after pregnancy, including on breastfeeding intention and duration. These data are now available as an automated research file (ARF) that can be downloaded. Researchers must complete a form to gain access to the data portal and sign a data use agreement before directly downloading the data.

Educational Handout on Dietary Guidelines for Infants and Toddlers

The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) released the "Feeding Infants and Toddlers: Highlighting Hispanic Heritage Foods" educational handout in English and Spanish. NACCHO has co-created culturally diverse nutrition materials for infants and toddlers based on the Dietary Guidelines with different communities. The design of all Culturally Responsive Nutrition Resources for Infants and Toddlers are co-created with families, who provided input throughout all development phases.

Join the BMBFA Black Breastfeeding Caucus

As we continue to celebrate Black History Month, visit our friends at the Black Breastfeeding Caucus, convened by the Black Mothers Breastfeeding Association (BMBFA). The mission of the BMBFA Black Breastfeeding Caucus is to mobilize families, communities, and public/private institutions to create strategies, make decisions, and implement action steps that result in equitable breastfeeding support for Black families. Meet the Black Breastfeeding Caucus Committee Chairs and learn about the "Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding for Black Families."

State & Community News

West Virginia Bill Introduced to Require State Buildings to Include a Lactation Space

West Virginia State Senator Chapman introduced Senate Bill 410. The bill would require all state buildings and properties leased by the state to provide a place, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from coworkers and the public, which may be used to express milk or to nurse a child. The bill would require nursing rooms to have a functional electrical outlet and a place for the mother to sit.

California Bill Introduced to Require Pumping Breaks During Court Proceedings

California State Representative Blakespear introduced Senate Bill 949. The bill would require the California superior court to provide any court user with a reasonable amount of break time during a court proceeding to express breast milk.