Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire - The Momentum Continues: Thank You for Bringing NBCC 2026 to Life, & More

Weekly Wire: June 12, 2026

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
  • The Momentum Continues: Thank You for Bringing NBCC 2026 to Life
• National News
  • Moms Matter Act Introduced
• State & Community News
  • Michigan Bills Introduced to Regulate Donor Milk and Establish Medicaid Coverage for Donor Milk
• 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

The Momentum Continues: Thank You for Bringing NBCC 2026 to Life

As we reflect on the 2026 National Breastfeeding Conference & Convening in Bethesda last week, we are filled with gratitude for everyone who helped make this gathering so successful. To our attendees, speakers, introducers, sponsors, exhibitors, staff, and partners: Thank you! Your knowledge, passion, and commitment brought our theme, Rooted in Legacy, Growing Toward Justice, to life in countless ways throughout the week.

Together, we honored the foundations laid by those who came before us while imagining new possibilities for the future of the First Food field. Through thoughtful dialogue, shared learning, meaningful connections, and collective visioning, you helped create a space that was both grounding and energizing.

The ideas exchanged, relationships strengthened, and momentum generated during our time together will continue to ripple outward long after the conference has ended. We leave inspired by the wisdom in this community and energized by the work ahead. The energy you brought to this gathering will help propel our field forward as we continue working toward building systems that protect, promote, and support breastfeeding and infant nutrition for all families.

Thank you for being part of this movement and for helping shape what comes next. We look forward to carrying this momentum forward, together, in the year ahead!

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National News

Moms Matter Act Introduced

Senator Gillibrand (NY) introduced the Moms Matter Act (S.4552). The bill would establish a grant program to fund community-based organizations, maternity care providers (including lactation consultants certified by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners), and mental health providers to expand maternal mental health services, integrate behavioral health care into primary care settings, establish group prenatal and postpartum care programs, and train maternity care providers to identify and refer individuals with maternal mental health conditions or substance use disorders. The bill would also fund grants to grow and diversify the maternal mental and behavioral health care workforce, with priority given to programs serving populations with elevated rates of maternal mortality and morbidity. A companion bill, H.R.8811, was introduced by Representative Clarke (NY-9).

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State & Community News

Michigan Bills Introduced to Regulate Donor Milk and Establish Medicaid Coverage for Donor Milk

Michigan Senator Geiss introduced Senate Bills 724, 725, and 726 to establish a regulatory framework for donor human milk. SB 724 would establish safety standards and processing requirements in alignment with Human Milk Banking Association of North America guidelines, and prohibit adulterated or raw milk with civil and criminal penalties. SB 725 would expand Medicaid coverage for donor human milk for up to two years after birth for eligible individuals and infants. SB 726 would add criminal sentencing guidelines for violations of SB 724's prohibitions. Media highlights include:

• Michigan Advance: "Geiss bills would regulate human milk banks, expand access to donor milk"

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Action Opportunities

International Baby Food Action Network: "Call to end Nestlé-UNU Partnership." Sign-on deadline: n/a.

 Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition: "A State Bill, A National Opportunity." Action deadline: n/a.

National Collaborative for Infants and Toddlers: "Protect FY 2027 Funding for Infants & Toddlers." Action deadline: n/a.

National Partnership for Women & Families: "We're listening to mothers, too." Story submission deadline: n/a.

National WIC Association: "Reject USDA Reorganization that Threatens WIC Services!" Action deadline: n/a.

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Funding Opportunities

National Institutes of Health: "Intervention Research to Improve Native American Health." Application deadline: Thursday, January 7, 2027.

Vital Village Networks: "Certificate in Community Leadership and Advocacy Scholarship Application." Application deadline: Friday, July 31. 

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Upcoming Events

Monday, June 15:

• Black Families Flourishing: "Exploring Research and Policy to Support Black Families and Strengthen America's Future"

Thursday, June 25:

• Trust for America's Health: "Defining the Wins: Statewide Policy Change Strategies for Public Health"

Friday, June 26:

• Johns Hopkins University: "Creating Connections for Communicating Science"

Tuesday, June 30 - Wednesday, July 1:

•  Urban Indian Health Institute: "Indigenous Evaluation Workshop Registration Form"

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News & Views

Blavity: "Black Midwives Say Laws Are Limiting Maternal Care, So They Are Suing These Southern States"

Illinois.gov: "Illinois Family Neonatal Intensive Care Leave Act Takes Effect June 1"

Relief Web: "Policy Brief: Breastfeeding for Resilience and a Healthier Planet Promoting Optimal Infant Feeding Practices Across the Mandera Triangle"

Voice of OC: "OC Officials Won’t Pursue Renewing Funding For New Black Infant Health Program"

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Journal Publications

Cell Reports Medicine: "Breastfeeding may lessen socioeconomic disparities in child health through differences in the infant gut microbiome"

International Breastfeeding Journal:

• "Breastfeeding in the shadow of war: a qualitative study on the experiences of Palestinian women"
• "Gender-just reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in maternity care services through the ‘baby- friendly hospital initiative’: a scoping review"

Journal of Perinatology: "Enhancing breastfeeding outcomes in preterm infant: a collaborative approach with dedicated lactation specialists and family engagement"

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U.S. Breastfeeding Committee
1629 K Street NW Suite 300 | Washington, District of Columbia 20006
(773) 359-1549 | [email protected] 

 

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