Weekly Wire: Bipartisan Donor Milk Bill Introduced, Take Action to Protect Pregnant Workers, and more

Weekly Wire: October 21, 2022

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
  • Take Action: Email Your Senators About PWFA
  • USBC Constellation Webpages Updated
  • USBC Supports...
• National News
  • Bill on Improving Access to Donor Milk Introduced
  • FDA Webinar on Medication in Pregnancy and Lactation
  • COCA Call on Monkeypox During Childhood, Pregnancy, and Lactation
  • Great Lakes Breastfeeding Webinar on the Infant Formula Crisis & Breastfeeding
  • Meeting for First Responders on Safe Sleep and Breastfeeding
  • 6th Edition of America's Health Rankings Health of Women and Children Report
  • ZipMilk New Website
• State & Community News
  •     Louisiana Bill Supporting Pregnant and Breastfeeding Students Enacted 
  • New York Bill on Human Trafficking Information in Lactation Rooms Introduced
  • New York Bill on Coverage for Lactation Consultants Passes Assembly
• Funding  Opportunities
• News & Views

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

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USBC Updates

Take Action: Email Your Senators About PWFA

Please join us by emailing your Senators about the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) with our easy action tool. The PWFA would ensure reasonable workplace accommodations for workers whose ability to perform the functions of a job are limited by pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, including lactation. It's critical that we raise our voices to support this bill while the Senate is still in session! The bill was passed by the House with strong bipartisan support and has the votes needed to pass the Senate. But we need Senate leadership to prioritize bringing this bill to the Senate floor. This will only be possible if constituents like you ask your Senators to make this happen. There are a limited number of days left in this Congressional Session and your action can make all the difference. Contact your Senator today!

USBC Constellation Webpages Updated

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee updated the Constellation Work Group webpages. Each webpage has been updated with current information, links to resources developed by the Constellation, and participant lists. Explore each page to learn more:

• Continuity of Care Constellation
• Disrupting Formula Marketing Constellation
• Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies Constellation
• Lactation Support Providers Constellation
• Pasteurized Donor Human Milk Constellation
• Physician Education & Training Constellation
• Workplace Support Constellation

USBC Supports...

The USBC joined the following joint letter from the field:

AMCHP: Postpartum Medicaid Extension Letter to Congressional Leadership

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National News

Bill on Improving Access to Donor Milk Introduced

Representative Houlahan (D-PA-06), Representative Salazar (R-FL-27), and Representative Bice (R-OK-5) introduced the Access to Donor Milk Act (ADMA) (H.R. 9196) in Congress, the first-ever bipartisan bill to improve access to donor breast milk. The ADMA would allow the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) funding to support donor milk activities in states; provide emergency capacity funding for milk banks, in the event there is a rapid increase in demand for donor milk; create a donor milk awareness program at the Department of Health and Human Services and expand an existing program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to educate the public on donor milk and nonprofit milk banks; and require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue a rule clarifying the regulatory status of donor milk provided by nonprofit milk banks. USBC Deputy Director Amelia Psmythe Seger is quoted in the joint press release issued by Representative Houlahan's office.

FDA Webinar on Medication in Pregnancy and Lactation

The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) Office of Women's Health is hosting a virtual webinar titled "Engaging Providers to Address Knowledge Gaps on Medication Use in Pregnancy and Lactation," on Thursday, October 27, at 12 p.m. ET. In this webinar, the FDA will highlight gaps in human data for medications used during pregnancy and lactation, describe the work the FDA is doing to advance research in this specific population, and share information on how providers can become involved in advancing this research. Continuing education credits (CME/CNE/CPE) will be available for webinar attendees. Register for the webinar.

 COCA Call on Monkeypox During Childhood, Pregnancy, and Lactation

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are hosting a Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) call titled "Update on Monkeypox in Children, Adolescents, and People Who are Pregnant or Breastfeeding" on Thursday, October 27, from 2-3 p.m. ET. During the call, presenters will focus on current information about monkeypox as it relates to children, adolescents, and people who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Presenters will address clinical considerations for diagnosis, treatment, and post-exposure prophylaxis; vaccination; contact and breastfeeding recommendations; infection prevention and control measures; and resources available to care for these patient populations.

 Great Lakes Breastfeeding Webinar on the Infant Formula Crisis & Breastfeeding

The Michigan Breastfeeding Network launched registration for an on-demand webinar titled "Lactation, Contamination and the American Formula Crisis." This webinar will explore how the government and healthcare system's failure to support lactating people left many families with no resources to feed their babies during the infant formula crisis. This webinar is approved for 1 nurse's contact hour, 1 social work CE hour, 1 dietitian CPEU, 1 community health worker CEU, 1 certified education specialist CECH, and 1 CME until October 17, 2023.

Meeting for First Responders on Safe Sleep and Breastfeeding

The National Institute for Children's Health Quality is hosting a National Action Partnership to Promote Safe Sleep Improvement and Innovation Network (NAPPSS-IIN) Community of Practice (CoP) group titled "It Takes A Village: First Responders Share Roles in Promoting Safe Sleep Practices in their Communities" on Thursday, October 27, from 1- 2 p.m. ET. The event is part of a series of meetings to address policies, improve skills, and learn from each other’s experiences in the areas of safe sleep and breastfeeding.

6th Edition of America's Health Rankings Health of Women and Children Report

The United Health Foundation published America's Health Rankings "2022 Health of Women and Children Report." The report highlights health challenges faced by the nation's women and children. "Breastfeeding Initiation" is featured as a Quality of Care measure for women's health, and "Breastfed" is a Nutrition and Physical Activity measure for children's health in this year's report.

 ZipMilk Launches New Website

ZipMilk, a Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition project, launched an updated and redesigned website. ZipMilk provides directory listings for individuals seeking breastfeeding support. Providers can also use ZipMilk to give their clients access to breastfeeding support resources.

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State & Community News

Louisiana Bill Supporting Pregnant and Breastfeeding Students Enacted

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards signed HB516 into law. The new law requires public high schools to adopt attendance, breastfeeding, and childcare policies for pregnant or parenting students. It went into effect Monday, August 1.

New York Bill on Human Trafficking Information in Lactation Rooms Introduced

New York Assemblymember Amy Paulin introduced Assembly Bill 10685. The bill would require information concerning services for human trafficking victims to be made available in lactation rooms in commercial service airports.

New York Bill on Coverage for Lactation Consultants Passes Assembly

New York Assemblymember Chantel Jackson introduced Assembly Bill 8653. The bill would require insurance coverage for lactation consultant services by counselors who evaluate and manage lactation and infant feeding problems and provide preventative clinical counseling. The bill has passed the assembly and been delivered to the state senate.

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Funding Opportunities

Health Resources and Services Administration: Fiscal Year 2023 Quality Improvement Fund – Maternal Health. Deadline: Monday, December 5.

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News & Views

HHS blog post: "COVID-19 Vaccines While Pregnant or Breastfeeding"

Juneau Empire: "Opinion: Its Time for the Pump Act to Become Law"

FDA statement: "Abbott Voluntarily Recalls Certain Lots of 2 Fl. Oz./59 mL Bottles of Ready-to-Feed Liquid Products; Recall Is Not Expected to Impact U.S. Infant Formula Supply"

Today: "How a unique home visit program is saving lives"

USDA press release: "USDA Extends Flexibility that's Helping Manufacturers, States get Formula to WIC Families"