Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire - What the President's Budget Means for the Lactation Field & more

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Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire - What the President's Budget Means for the Lactation Field & more

8/15/2025

In this issue:

USBC Updates
- President's Budget Analysis: What It Means for the Lactation Field
Special Section on National Breastfeeding Month
International News
- WHO Resource on Respectful Maternal and Newborn Care
National News
- New Maternal Health Action and Resource Center Website
- Call for Manuscripts: Special Theme Issue of Nutrients
State & Community News
- Puerto Rico Breastfeeding Code Signed Into Law
Action Opportunities
Funding Opportunities
Upcoming Events
News & Views

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

USBC Updates

President's Budget Analysis: What It Means for the Lactation Field

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee published a blog post, "Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Overview: Implications for Breastfeeding Programs" Appropriations for breastfeeding have helped build and strengthen critical programs and initiatives to improve maternity care practices, increase access to peer & professional support, ensure continuity of lactation care, increase support for lactating employees, and address disparities in breastfeeding rates. Most funding relevant to the lactation field is found in the Labor–Health and Human Services (Labor–HHS) and Agriculture appropriations bills. Our new blog post details key funding proposals that support breastfeeding and lactation support in the FY 2026 President’s Budget Request.

Special Section on National Breastfeeding Month

It's National Breastfeeding Month! The 2025 NBM theme is Forward Together. The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee and the lactation field are busy preparing activities, events, and celebrations. Join us as we take the time in August (and beyond!) for action, education, and celebration of our collective efforts. Share your organization's plans with us so we can amplify your work in the Weekly Wire and on social media, shop the USBC Store for official NBM merch, and make a donation to help support important campaigns like this one. Highlights from the field include:

AANHPI Breastfeeding Week: The Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Breastfeeding Week organizers announced that the 2025 AANHPI Breastfeeding Week theme is Diverse Voices, One Vision. The observance mission is to decrease inequities and normalize chest/breastfeeding in AANHPI communities by improving breast/chestfeeding education and support practices. AANHPI Breastfeeding Week starts today, Friday, August 15 and ends on Thursday, August 21.

Healthy Children Project: In celebration of National Breastfeeding Month, the Healthy Children Project announced that applications are being accepted for the 2025 "Accessing the Milky Way Scholarship." The scholarships will cover tuition costs for the Lactation Counselor Training Course and are open to anyone who is a Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Color. The application deadline is today, Friday, August 15.
Healthy Horizons: During Workplace Lactation Week, Healthy Horizons is hosting a webinar titled, "Creative Solutions for Lactation Accommodation in the Modern Workplace" on Tuesday, September 2. This practical workshop will address the real-world logistics of implementing a successful lactation accommodation program. The discussion will cover how to provide a legally compliant space with examples from the hospitality, agriculture, construction, banking, and other industries.

Breastfeeding Proclamations

Belmont County, Ohio: The Belmont County Board of Commissioners proclaimed August as Breastfeeding Awareness Month in Belmont County, OH.
Kings County, California: The Kings County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution proclaiming the month of August 2025 as National Breastfeeding Month in Kings County.
Laredo, Texas: Mayor Treviño proclaimed August as Breastfeeding Month in the City of Laredo, TX.
Maryland: Governor Moore proclaimed August 2025 as Breastfeeding Month in Maryland.
New Mexico: Governor Grisham proclaimed August 2025 as New Mexico Breastfeeding Month.
Springfield, Massachusetts: Mayor Sarno proclaimed August 2025 as National Breastfeeding Month in the City of Springfield, MA.
Sutter County, California: The Sutter County Board of Supervisors issued a proclamation recognizing August 2025 as National Breastfeeding Awareness Month in Sutter County, CA.

NBM News & Views

A Better Balance: "Every Nursing Parent Deserves Equity at Work: A Call to Action for National Breastfeeding Month"
Erie County Department of Health: "Erie County acknowledges National Breastfeeding Awareness Month"
Indigenous Milk Medicine Collective: "Indigenous Milk Medicine Collective Announces Indigenous Milk Medicine Week & Conference 2025"
La Leche League USA: "Milk Medicine Is a Ceremony: Love, Landback, and Liberation in Practice"
United Health Services: "UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital Celebrates National Breastfeeding Awareness Month"

International News

WHO Resource on Respectful Maternal and Newborn Care

The World Health Organization relased the "Compendium on respectful maternal and newborn care." The purpose of the compendium is to consolidate key evidence, tools and resources to support the practical implementation of respectful maternal and newborn care across different contexts. It provides essential background information to build a foundational understanding of mistreatment and respectful care. Read the news release, "WHO and partners launch global guide to advance respectful maternal and newborn care."

National News

New Maternal Health Action and Resource Center Website

The National Institute for Children’s Health Quality (NICHQ) announced the launch of the Maternal Health Action and Resource Center website. This newly established national resource center, funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), is designed to provide access to evidence-based strategies and guidance with the purpose of enhancing and strengthening State Maternal Health Innovation (MHI) recipients’ ability to improve maternal health outcomes for all populations in their communities.

Call for Manuscripts: Special Theme Issue of Nutrients

The Nutrients journal is working on a special theme issue related to dietary interventions and cardiometabolic health. This Special Issue calls for research highlighting a variety of dietary interventions to address disparities in cardiometabolic health and advance health equity spanning across the lifespan. Manuscript submissions are being accepted until Wednesday, February 25, 2026.

USBC Insight: Research has continuously proven that breastfeeding protects both the breastfeeding infant and mother from a range of cardiometabolic health diseases. For the baby, human milk feeding reduces the risk of obesity and diabetes (both type 1 and type 2), while for the breastfeeding mother, it reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. This is an opportunity to submit studies focused on breastfeeding support and promotion as an evidence-based strategy for promoting better cardiometablic health across the lifespan.

State & Community News

Puerto Rico Breastfeeding Code Signed Into Law

Puerto Rico Governor González-Colón signed the "Código de Lactancia de Puerto Rico" into law through Senate Bill 476. The law consolidates various existing laws and regulations into a single, updated framework that articulates the rights of the breastfeeding mother, as well as the duties and responsibilities of third parties vis-à-vis the breastfeeding mother, in an integrated and holistic manner. The law establishes August as Breastfeeding Awareness Month, guarantees the right to breastfeed in any public or private space, and mandates at least one hour of paid time each workday for breastfeeding or expressing milk for up to 12 months after returning from maternity leave. The law also prohibits the provision of breast milk substitutes in health facilities without medical authorization or parental consent. Media highlights include: