Weekly Wire: FY24 Funding for Breastfeeding Sign-On Letter, IYCFE Social Media Toolkit, and more

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Weekly Wire: FY24 Funding for Breastfeeding Sign-On Letter, IYCFE Social Media Toolkit, and more

3/30/2023

In this issue:

USBC Updates
- Sign-On Letter Opportunity: Increasing Breastfeeding Funding in Fiscal Year 2024
- Thank You & Best Wishes to Amelia!
- Celebrating USBC Staff Member as CHEER Champion of the Week!
- USBC Conference Registration: Early Bird & Special Member Rates
National News
- CDC Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergency Social Media Toolkit
- Public Comment Opportunity on FDA Infant Formula Requirements
State & Community News
- Webinar on Lactation Protections at Work in Maine
- Vermont House Passes Paid Family & Medical Leave Bill
- Paid Family Leave Bill Introduced in Florida
- Breast Pump Accessibility Bill Introduced in Maine
- Webinar on Pregnancy and Parenting at Work and on Campus
Funding Opportunities
News & Views
Journal Publications

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

USBC Updates

Sign-On Letter Opportunity: Increasing Breastfeeding Funding in Fiscal Year 2024

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee released an organizational sign-on letter calling for increased funding for the CDC Hospitals Promoting Breastfeeding line item. Recent events have made it clear that our nation lacks the infrastructure to protect infant nutrition and food security. We must do more to protect and support breastfeeding so that more families are able to reach their goals and so that we can reduce our reliance on commercial products, particularly during emergencies. Increasing funding for the CDC Hospitals Promoting Breastfeeding program is a critical part of this shift. To learn more about the federal budget process and find a detailed analysis of the Fiscal Year 2024 President's Budget, visit the Federal Appropriations For Breastfeeding webpage. The deadline to sign on to the joint letter is Monday, April 10. Please help us demonstrate widespread support for this important funding by sharing this opportunity widely with organizations in your network.

Thank You & Best Wishes to Amelia!

The USBC team would like to express our sincere gratitude for the work and service of Amelia Psmythe Seger as she transitions away from the organization and turns her focus to her consulting, facilitation, and coaching business, Many Ways, LLC. Amelia has provided valued service to the USBC for the past eleven years as a leader, mentor, and visionary. Amelia has made indelible contributions to the establishment of the Constellation Model of Collective Impact within USBC, facilitating the Lactation Support Provider and COVID-19 IYCFE Constellations, amongst others. She has been a long-time contributor to USBC policy work, including the passage of the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act. This is Amelia's last week with the USBC. It's been a pleasure to have her as a teammate, and she will be deeply missed. We wish her all the best in her next endeavor!

Celebrating USBC Staff Member as CHEER Champion of the Week!

The Center for Health Equity, Education, and Research (CHEER) announced Cheryl Lebedevitch as the CHEER Champion of the week. Cheryl serves as Senior Policy and Communications Manager for the USBC and has led the organization's policy and advocacy work in recent years. CHEER is recognizing Cheryl's contributions and pivotal role in advocating for the passage of the newly signed PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act, as well as her role as co-steward of the USBC-affiliated Workplace Support Constellation, a collaborative group of 20+ organizations working to expand workplace lactation protections. We at the USBC celebrate and acknowledge the significant contributions Cheryl has made over the years to advance policies that support families in the field of breastfeeding and lactation. Congratulations, Cheryl!

USBC Conference Registration: Early Bird & Special Member Rates

Registration for the 2023 National Breastfeeding Conference and Convening (NBCC) is open! The annual USBC conference brings together a diverse network of clinical, community, advocacy, and research professionals who recognize the public health significance of breastfeeding. This year's theme is Expanding Connections and Partnering for Progress and is designed to develop and strengthen the leadership capacity of the public health workforce, including representatives from direct service organizations, breastfeeding coalitions, hospitals and healthcare facilities, health departments, research institutions, and federal agencies to effectively protect, promote, and support breastfeeding. An early bird registration discount is available through Sunday, April 30. Learn more, download the preliminary agenda, and access the link to reserve your hotel room at the discounted group rate via the conference webpage and the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) webpage. Review sponsorship and exhibit oportunities, download the prospectus, and complete your application on the NBCC marketing webpage.

Individuals from USBC Member Organizations are eligible to register at a discounted rate. If you are connected to a member organization, refer to the conference registration email sent on Thursday, March 16, to access your promo code and instructions before registering. If you did not receive that communication, please reach out to the office.

National News

CDC Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergency Social Media Toolkit

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released the IYCF-E Social Media Toolkit, containing sharable messages and graphics with information related to infant and young child feeding in emergencies. The resources provide information and guidance on topics including creating an emergency preparation feeding checklist, cleaning infant feeding items, hand expression, and breast milk storage.

Public Comment Opportunity on FDA Infant Formula Requirements

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a proposed collection of information on infant formula requirements to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. The proposal is an update of an October 2022 proposal on industry guidance to account for voluntary notifications pertaining to product samples found to be positive for Cronobacter spp. or Salmonella, even if the affected lot(s) have not been distributed. These revisions were made as part of the Federal Government's response to address ongoing disruptions in the infant formula supply. Written comments and recommendations can be submitted by Wednesday, April 26.

State & Community News

Webinar on Lactation Protections at Work in Maine

The Maine State Breastfeeding Coalition is hosting an event titled "Expressing Milk at Work - What Helps and What Stands in the Way" on Thursday, April 6, at 12 p.m. ET. The webinar will be led by an employment attorney who will discuss what protections are available under the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Affordable Care Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act, and the Maine Human Rights Act to support lactating parents returning to work. The webinar will explore how workplace policies, practices, and stigmas can support or interfere with a parent's ability to provide breastmilk to their babies.

Vermont House Passes Paid Family & Medical Leave Bill

The Vermont House of Representatives passed H.66, an act relating to paid family and medical leave insurance. The bill would establish a paid family and medical leave program in Vermont that provides up to 12 weeks of paid leave insurance with 90% pay and employment protection. The legislation would provide leave for a variety of health conditions for both employees and their families, including miscarriage, residential treatment for substance use disorder, childbirth, and child bonding.

Paid Family Leave Bill Introduced in Florida

Florida Representative Chaney introduced CS/HB 721 to establish a paid family leave program in Florida. The bill would guarantee two weeks of paid family leave for Florida workers for childbirth, adoption, fostering, care for a seriously ill family member, or a family member being called into active duty.

Breast Pump Accessibility Bill Introduced in Maine

Maine Representative Murphy introduced An Act to Make Electric Breast Pumps More Accessible by Providing for MaineCare Reimbursement (LD 603). The bill would require the MaineCare Medicaid program to provide reimbursement for electric breast pumps and supplies without prior authorization or limitation when pumps are recommended or prescribed by a physician. Media highlights include:

Fox 23 Maine: "Bill aims to increase access to breast pumps and supplies under MaineCare"

Webinar on Pregnancy and Parenting at Work and on Campus

Public Counsel is hosting a webinar titled, "Pregnancy and Parenting at Work and on Campus" on Tuesday, April 4, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. PT. The webinar will discuss the right to reasonable accommodation in the workplace and the different types of leave benefits for people who are pregnant and recovering from childbirth under federal and state law. The webinar will also cover the rights of pregnant and parenting students under Title IX. Register for the webinar.