Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire - USBC Interim Executive Director Announcement & more

The USBC e-Newsletter, Staying Abreast, is published in a weekly news brief format, called the Weekly Wire (WW). Past issues are archived below.

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Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire - USBC Interim Executive Director Announcement & more

11/17/2023

In this issue:

USBC Updates
- Tina Sherman Appointed as USBC Interim Executive Director
- New USBC Resource on The Distribution of Federal Funding for Breastfeeding
- Donate to The USBC for a Chance to be Featured in "Spotlight on a Donor" Campaign
- Weekly Wire Hiatus & USBC Office Closure for Thanksgiving
International News
- International Review of Paid Leave Policies
National News
- Birth & Breastfeeding Leadership Institute Fall 2023 Cohort Announced
- Fiscal Year 2024 Federal Budget Update
- Learning Bundles on Anti-Racism in Perinatal Health
- NASEM Workshop on Supply Chain Disruptions
State & Community News
- Michigan Bill Introduced to Require Break Time for Nursing Workers
- Louisiana Paid Leave Policy for State Government Employees To Take Effect in January
Upcoming Events
News & Views
Journal Publications

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

USBC Updates

Tina Sherman Appointed as USBC Interim Executive Director

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee (USBC) Board of Directors announced that Tina Sherman has been appointed to the role of Interim Executive Director of USBC, effective Wednesday, November 15. She resigned her role as Chair-Elect on the USBC Board and has temporarily stepped back from her position as a Senior Campaign Director for Maternal Justice at MomsRising in order to assume this position. Tina will serve as the Interim Executive Director (ED), supporting the board of directors and the programmatic efforts of the staff team while focusing much of her time as Interim ED on financial sustainability and organizational vitality.

New USBC Resource on The Distribution of Federal Funding for Breastfeeding

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee released "The Distribution of Federal Funding for Breastfeeding 2023 Report" as a supplement to the "2023 State & Territory Breastfeeding Reports." This resource is designed to help organizations better understand how federal funding has been distributed in each state and territory. Organizations are encouraged to use the table in this report to identify where there are opportunities to expand breastfeeding programming in each state or territory.

Donate to the USBC for a Chance to be Featured in “Spotlight on a Donor” Campaign

We know you have a unique story about why you are so passionate about breastfeeding and increasing access to human milk. In our new "Spotlight on a Donor" Campaign, we celebrate the dedicated organizations and individuals who help make this work possible with their financial contributions. When you make a donation to the USBC, you can opt-in to participate, and you can schedule your recurring donation for when it's convenient for you: monthly, quarterly, or even weekly! Make a one-time or recurring donation today and let us know if you'd like us to spotlight you!

Weekly Wire Hiatus & USBC Office Closure for Thanksgiving

The Weekly Wire will be on hiatus next week in recognition of the upcoming holiday, and offices will be closed on Thursday, November 24, in observance of Thanksgiving. We look forward to connecting when we return!

International News

International Review of Paid Leave Policies

The International Network on Leave Policies and Research released the "19^th International Review of Leave Policies and Related Research 2023." Covering fifty countries, the global analysis examines and offers cross-country comparisons of current national leave and employment-related policies including policies around paid breaks for breastfeeding and pumping at work, the relationship between leave policy and early childhood education and care policies, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The report notes that the United States makes no provision nationally for paid leave for women at the time of pregnancy and childbirth.

National News

Birth & Breastfeeding Leadership Institute Fall 2023 Cohort Announced

The Black Mothers' Breastfeeding Association (BMBFA) announced the Birth & Breastfeeding Leadership Institute Fall 2023 cohort. This cohort is employer-sponsored and supported by NICHQ Healthy Start. The seven distinguished leaders will embark on the institute's nine-month immersive development program which has eight modules encompassing communications/messaging, advocacy & policy, program development, leadership development, fund development, content development, cross-functional team building, and organizational leadership.

Fiscal Year 2024 Federal Budget Update

The Senate and House passed and the President will soon sign Further Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, 2024 (H.R.6363) to temporarily fund the government. Known as a continuing resolution, the bill gives policymakers additional time to negotiate and pass the Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations bills, preventing a government shutdown. Funding for agencies and programs covered by the Agriculture, Energy-Water, Military Construction-VA, and Transportation-HUD appropriations bills is extended through Friday, January 19, while the remaining appropriations bills, including the Labor, Health, and Human Services appropriations bill will be extended through Friday, February 2. Visit the Congressional Research Service "Appropriations Status Table: FY2024" to view the status of each appropriations bill and visit the USBC "Federal Appropriations for Breastfeeding" webpage to see the latest funding levels for programs impacting infant feeding and the lactation field.

Learning Bundles on Anti-Racism in Perinatal Health

The Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP) published the "Healthy Beginnings with Title V Learning Bundles: Resources from a Learning Cohort Advancing Anti-Racism in Perinatal Health." These bundles offer an immersive experience designed to support equitable partnerships between recipients of the Title V Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Block Grant and community-based organization participants, center bi-directional learning of anti-racist strategies to improve perinatal health, and highlight areas of improvement for Title V to address.

NASEM Workshop on Supply Chain Disruptions

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) convened the "Supply Chain Disruptions: Impacts on Vulnerable Communities" workshop. The workshop focuses on the pervasive effects of supply chain disruptions, underscored by the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and critical shortages of essential commodities such as infant formula, prescription drugs, and medical devices, on vulnerable communities.

State & Community News

Michigan Bill Introduced to Require Break Time for Nursing Workers

Representative Lori Stone introduced House Bill 5292. The bill would require employers to provide employees with breaks to breastfeed or express breast milk and would require certain conditions to be met, including the provision of a refrigerator that is suitable for human milk storage.

Louisiana Paid Leave Policy for State Government Employees To Take Effect in January

Louisiana Governor Edwards signed SCS Rule 11.36 into law. This policy takes effect Monday, January 1, 2024, and will provide Louisiana state government employees with six weeks of paid parental leave, covering approximately 70,000 employees. Media highlights include: