Weekly Wire: Announcing USBC Policy Priorities, 2023 Lancet Series on Breastfeeding, and more

In this issue:

• USBC Updates
  • Announcing USBC Policy Priorities for the 118th Congressional Session 
  • PUMP Act Explainer Now Available As A Webpage 
• International News
  • Launch Event for 2023 Lancet Series on Breastfeeding
• National News
  • Systematic Review on Health Benefits of Breastfeeding in Infants and Children
  • Military Parental Leave Expanded As Part Of NDAA
  • Breastfeeding Family Friendly Communities Brainstorming Session
  • Request for Information on Eliminating Disparities Through Healthy Start
  • Prenatal-to-3 State Policy Roadmap 
  • Webinar on Adverse Effects of Childhood Sexual Abuse on Breastfeeding 
  • Guide to Workplace Leave Laws 
  • Institute for Perinatal Quality Improvement 28-Day Anti-Racism Challenge
• State & Community News
  • New Nebraska Bills on Milk Bank and Donor Milk Coverage
• News & Views
• Journal Publications

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

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USBC Updates

Announcing USBC Policy Priorities for the 118^th Congressional Session

Senators and Representatives are back on Capitol Hill, marking the start of the 118th Congressional Session. The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee will be doing our part too: connecting with and educating lawmakers as we strive to create policy, systems, and environmental changes that help make breastfeeding easier. The five policy priority areas that we will be working on this congressional session include:

• Federal funding for breastfeeding
• Infant nutrition security
• Access to lactation support and supplies
• Workplace protections
• Maternity care

To welcome the new Congress, we'll be delivering a letter to every member of the Senate and House of Representatives urging them to prioritize these policy areas this congressional session. We invite and urge all organizations to sign on to our joint letter by Friday, January 27, in order to be included in the initial delivery of the letter. Signers will be added on an ongoing basis after this date.

PUMP Act Explainer Now Available As A Webpage

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee, A Better Balance, American Civil Liberties Union, Center for WorkLife Law, National WIC Association, and MomsRising teamed up to develop an explainer document on the PUMP Act titled "The PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act: What You Should Know." The explainer provides details on the new law's protections, including who is covered, what protections are available, and what remedies are available if an employer does not comply.

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International News

Launch Event for 2023 Lancet Series on Breastfeeding

The World Health Organization, The Lancet, and Children in All Policies are co-hosting the launch of the 2023 Lancet Series on Breastfeeding at the Royal Society of Medicine in London, UK, and via live stream on February 8, 2023, at 7:30 a.m. ET (12:30 p.m. GMT). Richard Horton, Editor in Chief of The Lancet, and a panel of experts will be exploring how the value of breastfeeding is wasted by government and public health, and exploited by the formula milk industry. 

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National News

 Systematic Review on Health Benefits of Breastfeeding in Infants and Children

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Evidence-based Practice Center released the proposed key questions for the Health Benefits of Breastfeeding in Infants and Children Systematic Review. AHRQ will conduct an evidence-based review based on these questions to examine the morbidity and mortality associated with breastfeeding, including infectious and chronic disease outcomes in infants and children in developed countries. A new report will also inform CDC’s program development activities related to this topic. Individuals and organizations are invited to submit comments on the proposed key questions through Wednesday, February 1, 2023.

Military Parental Leave Expanded As Part Of NDAA

The James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (NDAA) (H.R. 7776) was signed into law by the President in December 2022. The NDAA included provisions from the Military Moms Matter Act, which provides a total of twelve weeks of paid parental leave during the one-year period after the birth or adoption of a child, or the placement of a child for long-term foster care. Service members already had access to paid parental leave, but the amount of leave has varied from Service to Service. Congress has addressed those inequities and standardized paid parental leave across the Services and made the benefit consistent with those offered by civilian employers. Read the memo from the Secretary of Defense. Media highlights include:

• Military.com: "12-Week Military Parental Leave Benefit Will Be in Place by January"
• My Military Benefits: "The FY2022 NDAA Brings 12 Weeks of Paid Parental Leave"

 Breastfeeding Family Friendly Communities Brainstorming Session

Breastfeeding Family Friendly Communities is hosting an informal brainstorming session virtually on Monday, January 30, at 3 p.m. ET. The session will include discussion on how to work with unsupportive systems to create institutional momentum around policies and systems to protect first food equity.

 Request for Information on Eliminating Disparities Through Healthy Start

The Health Resources and Services Administration, Division of Healthy Start issued a Request for Information titled "Healthy Start Initiative: Eliminating Disparities in Perinatal Health." HRSA's Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Division of Healthy Start and Perinatal Services, is seeking the perspectives of Healthy Start grantees, community members, people with lived experience, health care providers, community health workers, birthing people, parents, and other members of the public to inform future Healthy Start program development. The Healthy Start Initiative is a community-based program dedicated to reducing disparities in maternal and infant health. The Healthy Start program implements community-based interventions to improve the health of mothers and children, including breastfeeding education. The deadline to submit comments is Friday, February 3, 2023. 

Prenatal-to-3 State Policy Roadmap 

The Prenatal-to-3 State Policy Impact Center released the "2022 Prenatal-3 State Policy Roadmap." The resource provides guidance to state leaders on the most effective investments states can make to ensure all children thrive from the start. The roadmap provides detailed information on five effective policies and six effective strategies that foster the nurturing environments for infants and toddlers, and that reduce longstanding disparities in access and outcomes among racial and ethnic groups and socioeconomic statuses. The roadmap provides a summary of the progress that states have made over the last year toward full and equitable implementation of the 11 effective policies and strategies, including paid family leave. The roadmap also includes demographic characteristics of infants and toddlers across the U.S., and for each state, as well as a set of 20 outcome measures that illustrate how the well-being of children and families varies across states.

Webinar on Adverse Effects of Childhood Sexual Abuse on Breastfeeding 

The Michigan Breastfeeding Network is hosting a Great Lakes Breastfeeding Webinar titled, "Adverse Effects of Childhood Sexual Abuse on the Breastfeeding Dyad." The presentation will explore how a history of childhood sexual abuse impacts mental health, the breastfeeding journey, and the parenting experience. Continuing education is available through January 16, 2024. 

Guide to Workplace Leave Laws 

The Center for American Progress published "A Guide to Workplace Leave Laws in the United States." The fact sheet series explains the three main kinds of laws that offer Americans rights when they need time off for health or caregiving needs: unpaid family and medical leave, paid sick time, and paid family and medical leave. 

Institute for Perinatal Quality Improvement 28-Day Anti-Racism Challenge

The Institute for Perinatal Quality Improvement (PQI) is hosting a 28-day Anti-Racism Challenge that begins on Wednesday, February 1, 2023. PQI created a list of daily activities that are designed to enhance reflection and learning while providing tools to support anti-racism efforts. This is a free national opportunity to reflect, learn and act.

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State & Community News

New Nebraska Bills on Milk Bank and Donor Milk Coverage

Nebraska State Senator Carol Blood proposed a new legislative bill (L-B-12) that would establish a state-run human breast milk bank in Nebraska. Senator Blood also proposed a bill (L-B-13) that would require the Medical Assistance Act to cover the cost of obtaining breast milk. Currently there are no milk banks in the state of Nebraska, making it challenging for families to access donor breast milk. Media highlights include: 

• KETV: "New proposed legislation could create breast milk bank in Nebraska"

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News & Views

Hanscom Air Force Base: "Brown Building now home to new lactation pod"

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Journal Publications

Journal of Human Lactation: "Housing Insecurity, Housing Conditions, and Breastfeeding Behaviors for Medicaid-Eligible Families in Urban Settings"

Scientific Reports: "Residential green environments are associated with human milk oligosaccharide diversity and composition"