Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire - USBC Policy Webinar on Engaging Congress in Breastfeeding, & 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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The WW goes on hiatus several times a year: the weeks of the Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, & New Year's holidays, the weeks before the Presidents Day, Memorial Day, and Labor Day holidays, and the weeks of the USBC membership meetings.

Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire - USBC Policy Webinar on Engaging Congress in Breastfeeding, & More

4/10/2026

Weekly Wire: April 10, 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
- USBC Policy Webinar on Engaging Congress in Breastfeeding
- USBC Conference 2026: Opportunities for Marketing & Sponsorship
National News
- Join the Beloved Birth 50 by 50 Initiative
- Strengthening Information Exchanges for WIC Families Report
- NICU Family Advisory Council Toolkit
State & Community News
- Illinois Bills Introduced to Establish Paid Family and Medical Leave Program
- Wisconsin Bill Introduced to Require Postpartum Home Visits
Action Opportunities
Upcoming Events
News & Views

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

USBC Updates

USBC Policy Webinar on Engaging Congress in Breastfeeding

The U.S. Breastfeeding is hosting the "Framing, Storytelling, and Policy Asks: Engaging Congress on Infant Nutrition Security through Breastfeeding Webinar" in partnership with MomsRising and Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition on Monday, May 18. In this webinar, participants will explore how to position breastfeeding within federal policy conversations, develop clear and values-driven messaging, and navigate the practical steps of initiating congressional engagement. Presenters will share insights from their experience engaging with congressional offices and offer realistic guidance to support confident, effective advocacy. This webinar is approved for 1.00 L-CERP.

Note: USBC Annual Conference attendees who have registered for the Advocacy Day preconference workshop will be automatically registered for this webinar.

USBC Conference 2026: Opportunities for Marketing & Sponsorship

The 2026 National Breastfeeding Conference & Convening is just around the corner, and we’re excited to offer a variety of ways for organizations to get involved, including marketing opportunities, sponsorships, and exhibitor engagement. Our marketing options are a great fit for organizations looking to boost visibility and connect with a mission-aligned audience in meaningful ways. These options allow you to highlight your brand and tools, connect with attendees during the convening. We also warmly invite you to join us as a sponsor or exhibitor, an opportunity for deeper engagement and relationship-building. With multiple sponsorship levels available, organizations of all sizes can find a way to participate that aligns with budgets and intentions. Through these options, you can showcase your programs, services, or products in an interactive setting and connect directly with conference participants.

Visit our "2026 Conference Marketing Opportunities" webpage to learn more. If you’re interested in marketing, sponsorship, or exhibitor opportunities, please complete the Marketing and Sponsorship Application. We’re truly looking forward to partnering with organizations that share our passion for advancing breastfeeding and human milk feeding support nationwide! Reserve your seat to join us for the 2026 NBCC!

National News

Join the Beloved Birth 50 by 50 Initiative

Birth Center Equity invites organizations across all sectors to join the "Beloved Birth 50 by 50" initiative. Beloved Birth 50 by 50 is an opportunity for organizations to commit their voices, energy, and action to one bold, audacious goal: By 2050, 50% of babies in the US will be born with the care of midwives. They are seeking organizations from all areas and sectors to help shape the vision and implementation across six pathways by joining a Blueprint Committee, particularly for their Midwifery Workforce and Integration Pathways. Interested organizations can sign up via the "Beloved Birth 50 BY 50 Blueprint Committee Membership" form.

Strengthening Information Exchanges for WIC Families Report

The National WIC Association released the Landscape Report, "Strengthening Information Exchanges between Healthcare Providers and WIC." The report highlights current practices and practical opportunities to strengthen coordination of care for WIC families through referral and data-sharing systems. The report shares insights across system types and features real-world spotlights from WIC agencies and healthcare partners.

NICU Family Advisory Council Toolkit

The California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative (CPQCC) released the "NICU Family Advisory Council Toolkit" to help Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) staff and families build and sustain Family Advisory Councils (FACs) within their local hospitals. NICU FACs help enhance communication and collaboration between families and hospital staff, with the goal of improving policies and practices that affect families’ experiences in the NICU and their transition out of the NICU. With appropriate planning, commitment, and ongoing support, FACs can drive systemic improvements in patient care, health outcomes, and quality improvement.

State & Community News

Illinois Bills Introduced to Establish Paid Family and Medical Leave Program

Illinois Senator Villivalam introduced SB2413. Representatives Moeller and Benton introduced a companion bill in the House, HB3483. The bills would create a paid family and medical leave insurance program administered by the Illinois Department of Labor, providing up to 18 weeks of benefits to eligible employees. The program would also allow self-employed individuals to elect coverage and permit employers to offer equivalent private plans.

Wisconsin Bill Introduced to Require Postpartum Home Visits

A group of Wisconsin Representatives introduced Assembly Bill 1088. The bill would require hospitals to provide a postpartum home visit within 14 days of birth if requested, which would include breastfeeding and infant feeding support, with no cost to the patient and with coverage being required by health insurance plans without cost-sharing.