Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire - USBC Joins White House Event, Apply for WIC Breastfeeding Award of Excellence, & more

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Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire - USBC Joins White House Event, Apply for WIC Breastfeeding Award of Excellence, & more

10/10/2024

In this issue:

USBC Updates
- USBC joins White House & Federal Agency Staff to Celebrate PUMP Act and PWFA
- USBC is Hiring! Apply to the Communications Manager Role
- Welcoming New USBC Member Organizations: Ford County Breastfeeding Coalition & Nikki Lee Health
- Breastfeeding Policy Map Features New Issue Areas
International News
- Joint Statement on Infant and Young Child Feeding and Mpox
National News
- 2024 State of WIC Report
- WIC Breastfeeding Award of Excellence & Social Media Messaging
- TFAH Blueprint for Strengthening Public Health
State & Community News
- Hurricane Helene Infant and Young Child Feeding Emergency Response
- Infant Feeding Hotline Expanded to Support Families Affected by Hurricane Helene
- California Bill Expanding Insurance Coverage of Donor Human Milk Signed Into Law
- Michigan Bill Protecting Milk Expression in Public Spaces Signed Into Law
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

USBC joins White House & Federal Agency Staff to Celebrate PUMP Act and PWFA

Last month, the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee was invited to join a roundtable event hosted by the White House Gender Policy Council and Office of Public Engagement. The event convened workers, advocates, unions, and changemakers across the lactation field to discuss the importance of recent workplace protections included in the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) and the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections (PUMP) for Nursing Mothers Act, signed into law in 2022. Read the blog, "USBC and Stakeholders Join White House & Federal Agency Staff to Celebrate PUMP Act and PWFA," for event photos and reflections.

USBC is Hiring! Apply to the Communications Manager Role

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee is seeking applicants for the full-time, remote Communications Manager position. The Communications Manager will be responsible for shaping and executing external communications with USBC organizational stakeholders, donors, and supporters, ensuring messages are consistent, compelling, engaging, and that they effectively describe and promote the organization. Visit our Job Opportunities webpage for a full description of the role and to apply.

Welcoming New USBC Member Organizations: Ford County Breastfeeding Coalition & Nikki Lee Health

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee is thrilled to welcome two new members to the USBC membership network. The Ford County Breastfeeding Coalition is a Kansas-based coalition with a mission to improve the health of Ford County residents by working collectively to promote, protect, and support breastfeeding families. The coalition offers support, information, and resources to local communities through peer-to-peer support resources, breastfeeding classes, and more.

Nikki Lee Health offers individual lactation consultant support services to communities in East Nashville, Tennessee. They offer educational services including maternity and childbirth education and preparation classes that are tailored to meet each individual's needs. The USBC warmly welcomes both organizations to the USBC network!

Breastfeeding Policy Map Features New Issue Areas

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee hosts the Breastfeeding Policy Map, a resource designed to help the lactation field monitor federal and state policy proposals — bills and regulations that have been introduced during the current legislative session but not yet passed. The map is regularly updated to reflect proposals with the potential to impact infant feeding and/or the lactation field, and is a great way to keep tabs on the policy efforts happening in your state. The policies included on the map are curated from government sources, allowing the lactation field to quickly and proactively scan the policy landscape to stay informed about policy opportunities, challenges, and emerging trends. Select a state or issue area to view relevant bills and regulations, including bill status, most recent action, and a link to the full text. New issue areas featured on the policy map include lactation support for students, child care, and mental health support for postpartum individuals.

International News

Joint Statement on Infant and Young Child Feeding and Mpox

The Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies (IFE) Core Group and the Global Nutrition Cluster published a "Joint Statement on Infant and Young Child Feeding in the Context of Mpox." The template statement can be adapted by countries and was issued to secure immediate, multi-sectoral action on Infant and Young Child Feeding that follows the most up to date evidence and IYCF guidance in the context of the Mpox response.

National News

2024 State of WIC Report

The National WIC Association (NWA) published the "State of WIC: Celebrating 50 Years of Impact" report. The report highlights the history of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), ongoing advancements, and challenges, and outlines solutions for the future. Throughout the report, NWA emphasizes the program's success and calls for modernized technology, increased participation, workforce investment, and sustainable funding to ensure WIC continues to benefit families nationwide. The report celebrates improvements in breastfeeding rates among WIC participants and highlights WIC's approach to supporting sustained breastfeeding, including through the Breastfeeding Peer Counselor program.

WIC Breastfeeding Award of Excellence & Social Media Messaging

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) launched the 2025 "WIC Breastfeeding Award of Excellence" application. The award program recognizes exemplary local WIC breastfeeding programs and has awards at three levels of performance: gold, premiere, and elite. Local WIC agencies that have operated a breastfeeding peer counseling program for at least a year are eligible to apply. Applications must be submitted by Friday, December 13. In addition, FNS expanded the collection of social media messages and graphics on the "Promote Breastfeeding All Year Long" webpage. The content aims to support moms and encourage dads and grandparents to get involved with breastfeeding.

TFAH Blueprint for Strengthening Public Health

Trust for America's Health published the "Pathway to a Healthier America: A Blueprint for Strengthening Public Health for the Next Administration and Congress." The report provides the Administration and Congress taking office in 2025 a policy roadmap to improve the nation's health outcomes and bolster its economic and national security by strengthening the public health system. The report includes recommendations across six priority areas to protect and strengthen the public health system and our nation’s health security. Recommendations include strengthening the WIC program and creating a national standard for paid family and medical leave. The report highlights the impact of breastfeeding support projects funded through the Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) program.

State & Community News

Hurricane Helene Infant and Young Child Feeding Emergency Response

The North Carolina Breastfeeding Coalition released the "Infant Feeding Crisis Response: Western NC Hurricane Helene" webpage. The webpage features infant and young child feeding resources and services, information on how to volunteer or donate to support hurricane victims, and FAQs on addressing the urgent infant feeding needs across the region.

Infant Feeding Hotline Expanded to Support Families Affected by Hurricane Helene

The Appalachian Breastfeeding Network (ABN) operates a free, 24-hour breastfeeding hotline to connect families with lactation professionals and access support feeding their babies. In the wake of Hurricane Helene, ABN announced that North Carolina parents can now access infant feeding support through the hotline.

California Bill Expanding Insurance Coverage of Donor Human Milk Signed Into Law

California Governor Newsom signed California Assembly Bill (AB) 3059 into law. The new law requires health plans regulated by the Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) and policies regulated by the California Department of Insurance (CDI) to provide coverage for human milk and human milk derivatives. AB 3059 also exempts general acute care hospitals from the requirement to acquire a tissue bank license in order to store or distribute human milk obtained from a mothers' milk bank. Media highlights include:

Governor Gavin Newsom: "Governor Newsom issues legislative update 9.29.24"
University of California Health: "With AB 3059 signed into law, more babies in need will receive life-saving nutrition"

Michigan Bill Protecting Milk Expression in Public Spaces Signed Into Law

Michigan Governor Whitmer Signed Michigan Senate Bill 351 into law. The new law amends the Breastfeeding Antidiscrimination Act to provide the same protections from discrimination and remedies to an individual who is publicly expressing human milk as are currently provided to an individual who is publicly breastfeeding a child. A person alleging a violation of the act may bring a civil action for appropriate injunctive relief, for actual or presumed damages of $200, or for both injunctive relief and actual or presumed damages. In addition, the court can award all or a portion of the costs of litigation, including reasonable attorney fees and witness fees, to the complainant in the action. Read the press release.