Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire - Virtual Summit Keynote Address, Introducing Deaf and Hard of Hearing Breastfeeding Week, & 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 - Virtual Summit Keynote Address, Introducing Deaf and Hard of Hearing Breastfeeding Week, & more

7/18/2025

In this issue:

USBC Updates
- USLCA Policy Webinar Featuring USBC National Policy Director
- Virtual Summit Keynote Address By Dr. Camara Phyllis Jones
National News
- Introducing Deaf and Hard of Hearing Breastfeeding Week: Save the Date!
- Breastfeeding Medicine Special Issue on Early, Unplanned Cessation of Lactation
- Dads Matter Act Introduced in Senate
- Issue Brief on Expanding Paid Leave Through the Tax Code
State & Community News
- Puerto Rico Bill Strengthening Protections for Nursing Employees Signed Into Law
- New Hampshire Bill Strengthening Maternity Care Practices and Perinatal Support Signed Into Law
- Maine Bill Requiring Medicaid Coverage for In-Home Lactation Services Signed Into Law
- Colorado Bill Extending Parental Leave for NICU Parents Signed Into Law
Upcoming Events
News & Views
Journal Publications

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

USBC Updates

USLCA Policy Webinar Featuring USBC National Policy Director

The United States Lactation Consultant Association (USLCA) is hosting a free webinar, "From Policy to Practice: Moving Forward Together to Support Lactation Care," on Tuesday, August 5, from 3 p.m. ET to 4 p.m. ET. The webinar will feature a presentation by USBC National Policy Director Jacquiline Hammack, providing an update on federal policy shaping the lactation care landscape. From foundational protections to emerging legislation, federal funding shifts, and advocacy opportunities, this session will provide timely, actionable insights tailored for lactation care providers. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of how public policy intersects with clinical practice, the systemic barriers that remain, and why their voice is vital to advancing equitable support for families, now more than ever. Register today!

Virtual Summit Keynote Address By Dr. Camara Phyllis Jones

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee is excited to announce that Dr. Camara Phyllis Jones will be delivering the Keynote Address for the USBC Virtual Summit, Forward Together: Meeting the Moment, on Thursday, July 31. Download and explore the Summit Agenda to learn more about keynote and plenary sessions, and register to join us today. We hope to see you on July 31!

National News

Introducing Deaf and Hard of Hearing Breastfeeding Week: Save the Date!

The DC Breastfeeding Coalition announced that the first Deaf and Hard of Hearing Breastfeeding Week will take place this year during National Breastfeeding Month, from September 16 through September 22. The theme for this first-of-its-kind observance will be Close the Gap Bridge the Divide: Establish Breastfeeding Support Access. The DC Breastfeeding Coalition will collaborate with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Breastfeeding Collective to celebrate this observance through a series of virtual online events.

Breastfeeding Medicine Special Issue on Early, Unplanned Cessation of Lactation

Breastfeeding Medicine, the official journal of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, issued a Special Issue, "Early, Unplanned Cessation of Lactation in Healthy and At-Risk Dyads: Priorities for Research and Practice." This Special Issue features publications that highlight the biology of the early postpartum period, which is a complex, high-risk period for unplanned cessation of lactation that is often overlooked by researchers and clinicians.

Dads Matter Act Introduced in Senate

Senator Warnock (D GA), Senator Marshall (R KS), and Senator Gallego (D AZ) introduced the Dads Matter Act (S.2131). The bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to launch a national public awareness campaign and issue state-level guidance promoting father inclusion and engagement throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. The bill specifically acknowledges the role of father support in improving rates of successful breastfeeding and requires that the guidance include information on how health care practitioners can offer peer-to-peer, father-to-father encouragement, support, and education in communities that traditionally are not inclusive of fathers.

Issue Brief on Expanding Paid Leave Through the Tax Code

The National Partnership for Women & Families released the issue brief, "Missed Opportunities to Expand Paid Leave and Caregiving Supports Through the Tax Code." While comprehensive paid leave legislation remains the gold standard, there are other policy solutions available, including some incremental reforms that offer a pragmatic path forward that will serve families and expand access to leave while also building Congressional support for the concept of paid family and medical leave and popularizing the idea that this is a moral and economic imperative. This issue brief discusses targeted reforms and individual, business, state, and caregiver tax credit approaches that Congress can enact that directly help workers and caregivers and incentivize meaningful employer action.

State & Community News

Puerto Rico Bill Strengthening Protections for Nursing Employees Signed Into Law

Puerto Rico Governor González signed Act 29-2025 into law. The new law strengthens protections for nursing employees by modifying Puerto Rico’s Act to Regulate the Breastfeeding or Breast Milk Extraction Period to guarantee paid lactation break time and prohibit employers from penalizing or retaliating against them in any form, including through evaluations, compensation, scheduling, or advancement decisions. Media highlights include:

Littler: "Puerto Rico Prohibits Discrimination Against Breastfeeding Mothers in the Workplace"

New Hampshire Bill Strengthening Maternity Care Practices and Perinatal Support Signed Into Law

New Hampshire Governor Ayotte signed House Bill 2 into law. The spending bill strengthens maternity care practices and expands access to perinatal and postpartum support. It provides maternal depression screening, funds a perinatal psychiatric provider consult line and rural maternal health EMS services, and requires insurance coverage for perinatal home visiting. It also protects employees’ ability to attend postpartum and infant medical appointments, directs a study on barriers to independent birth centers, and initiates the development of a perinatal peer support certification program.

Maine Bill Requiring Medicaid Coverage for In-Home Lactation Services Signed Into Law

Maine Governor Mills signed Legislative Document 865 into law. The new law requires Medicaid reimbursement for in-home lactation services provided by lactation consultants certified by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners.

Colorado Bill Extending Parental Leave for NICU Parents Signed Into Law

Colorado Governor Polis signed Senate Bill 25-144 into law. The new law extends the duration of paid family and medical leave, up to an additional 12 weeks, for a parent who has a child receiving inpatient care in a neonatal intensive care unit.