Weekly Wire: Staying Abreast: Federal Budget Update, PUMP PWFA Celebration Blog & more

In this issue:

• USBC Updates
  • Celebrating the Passage of the PUMP Act & Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
  • Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations Update
  • Best Wishes to Miriam
  • Upcoming Events on USBC Events Calendar
• Special Section on National Breastfeeding Month 
• International News
  • Insights on the Realities of Working as an IBCLC while Breastfeeding Webinar
• National News
  • PUMP Technical Amendment Advances in Senate
  • FAA Reauthorization Passed by House
  • Resolution Supporting Bump Day Introduced
  • Mom Economy Resolution Introduced
  • USDA Food and Nutrition Assistance Landscape: Fiscal Year 2022 Annual Report
• Funding Opportunities
• News & Views

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

USBC Updates

Celebrating the Passage of the PUMP Act & Pregnant Workers Fairness Act

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee published a blog titled "Taking the Time for Celebration: the PUMP Act & PWFA are Law!" commemorating the passage of the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act and Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and highlighting recent celebrations of these landmark civil rights advancements. The blog describes the celebration at the National Breastfeeding Conference & Convening, A Better Balance Victory Party, and the White House Gender Policy Council event.

Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations Update

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee published a blog titled "FY24 Appropriations: What the House and Senate Bills Mean for Infant Feeding." Congress has released 11 of the 12 appropriations bills that set the federal budget. The USBC blog details unfunded and one-time directives included in the appropriations bills and associated reports that have been released so far. In addition, the USBC delivered the coalition letter urging Congress to increase funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Hospitals Promoting Breastfeeding program to members of the Senate Appropriations Committee. The letter is signed by 194 organizations. Additional signatures will be added on a rolling basis. Add your organization by completing the sign-on form. 

Best Wishes to Miriam

The USBC team would like to express our sincere gratitude for the work and service of Miriam Rodriguez as she steps away from the organization and into a new and exciting role as a Gender Policy Specialist in Costa Rica. Miriam has provided valued service to the USBC for the past five years as a key member of the USBC membership and training team. Miriam has been integral to the design and implementation of the National Breastfeeding Conference & Convening (NBCC) and NBCC Awardee program and has patiently worked to ensure that USBC learning opportunities include valuable continuing education credits. Next week will be Miriam's final week with the USBC. It's been a pleasure and an honor to have her as a teammate, and she will be greatly missed. We wish her all the best in her next endeavor!

Upcoming Events on USBC Events Calendar

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee maintains an Events Calendar with upcoming breastfeeding-related events that are hosted by our extensive network of USBC member organizations. Events include online trainings, learning opportunities, virtual conferences, and more. Check out the calendar to explore recently added events taking place in the coming weeks. USBC member organizations are invited to submit events via the USBC Member Portal.

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Special Section on National Breastfeeding Month 

National Breastfeeding Month (NBM) is right around the corner! The 2023 NBM theme is This is Our Why. The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee is busy preparing for a full month of activities and events. Join us as we take the time in August 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 and make a donation to help support important campaigns like this one. Highlights from the field include:

• DOL: On August 1, to celebrate the start of World Breastfeeding Week and National Breastfeeding Month, the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) is planning a nationwide Day of Action to launch the Power to Pump initiative. The initiative focuses on educating workers, employers, and stakeholders on workers’ expanded rights to pump at work under the PUMP Act. WHD's 54 district offices will all participate in distributing new PUMP Act materials to hundreds of community-based organizations and nonprofits, including WIC offices, worker centers, breastfeeding coalitions, health clinics and more. Additionally, federal and non-governmental organization partners will be further amplifying WHD's digital content on the Day of Action and throughout the campaign. The Day of Action will kick off a multi-month campaign of industry-specific PUMP Act guidance and engagement.
• Indigenous Milk Medicine Collective: The Indigenous Milk Medicine Collective is hosting the 2023 Indigenous Milk Medicine Week Virtual 5K. Participants complete the 5K on their own time during Indigenous Milk Medicine Week from August 8-14, 2023 to receive a digital badge of completion. Share about the movement opportunity by posting a picture on social media and using the week's hashtags to show support: #IMMW2023Virtual5K, #FromTheStars5K, and #IndigenousMilkMedicineWeek .
•  Maine State Breastfeeding Coalition: In celebration of National Breastfeeding Month, Maine State Breastfeeding Coalition published a blog: "The Week and the Work." Learn how you can celebrate National Breastfeeding Month and the passage of state paid leave legislation with the Maine State Breastfeeding Coalition on their "World Breastfeeding Week & National Breastfeeding Month" webpage. 
• MN DOL: The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry is hosting a webinar, "Workplace provisions supporting breastfeeding families," on Wednesday, August 2, at 8 a.m. PT. The discussion will include information on becoming a breastfeeding-friendly organization and how doing so can help an employer's bottom line as well as federal and state laws on pregnant and lactating workers.
• USBC: In honor of National Breastfeeding Month, the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee invites individuals and organizations to make a donation to fuel the organization's vital advocacy efforts and to submit their NBM news and events for consideration to be featured in this newsletter. 
•  USLCA: The United States Lactation Consultant Association is hosting a webinar, "How to use the PUMP Act to make a difference for working parents," on Tuesday, August 22, at 1 p.m. ET. The webinar will feature Cheryl Lebedevitch, USBC Senior Policy and Communications Manager, and will include stories from working moms, practical tips, and resources to support postpartum families transitioning back to the workforce.
• WBW: The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Advocacy released a Spanish and French version of the World Breastfeeding Week Social Media Kit to help organizations get involved during World Breastfeeding Week, taking place next week from Tuesday, August 1, through Monday, August 7.

Local Events:

•  Georgia Breastfeeding Coalition: Northwest Georgia Breastfeeding Coalition and Georgia Breastfeeding Coalition are hosting the 9th annual Express Your SuperPower 5K/10K in Canton, Georgia, on Saturday, September 30 (as August is too hot for a run). All proceeds of the 2023 run will go to support the MedMilk Project, building Georgia’s Milk Bank! 
• NBC: The Navajo Breastfeeding Coalition is celebrating National Breastfeeding Month with a Health Fair, Farmer's Market, and Family Fun Walk on Wednesday, August 16, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm in Window Rock, Arizona. The event will promote and support breastfeeding and will take place at the Window Rock Bashas Parking Lot. 
• RVA Breastfeeds: RVA Breastfeeds is hosting a celebration of National Breastfeeding Month at the Diamond baseball stadium on Wednesday, August 9, at 5 p.m. ET, followed by a Richmond Flying Squirrels Baseball Game. This event brings together expecting and new families and their providers to raise public awareness of the importance of human milk feeding for the long-term health of the community. 

Breastfeeding Month Proclamations

• West Virginia: Governor Jim Justice issued a proclamation declaring August 2023 as West Virginia Breastfeeding Month.
• Wisconsin: Governor Tony Evers issued a proclamation declaring August 2023 as Breastfeeding Month throughout the state of Wisconsin.

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International News

Insights on the Realities of Working as an IBCLC while Breastfeeding Webinar

A new Global Centre for Lactation Training webinar, "Work, Milk, and Magic: Insights on the Realities of Working as an IBCLC while Breastfeeding," is available on demand beginning the week of August 7 for two months. The discussion will feature a series of experienced International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) panelists who are also working parents. The panelists will delve into their personal journeys. Discover their navigation strategies, and the intriguing juxtaposition of reality and their initial expectations of life with a breastfeeding baby.

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National News

PUMP Technical Amendment Advances in Senate

The Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee advanced the PUMP Technical Correction Act (S. 2219) through committee. The bill would amend the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 to expand access to breastfeeding accommodations in the workplace to employees of the legislative branch, including employees of the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the Architect of the Capitol. The committee held a markup on Wednesday, July 26, and voted to advance the bill favorably without amendment. 

FAA Reauthorization Passed by House

The House of Representatives passed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2023 (H.R. 3935). The bill would authorize appropriations for the Federal Aviation Administration for fiscal years 2024 through 2028 and includes a provision that would require the FAA Administrator to issue guidance to air carriers relating to the expression of breast milk by crewmembers on an aircraft during non-critical phases of flight, consistent with the performance of the crewmember's duties aboard the aircraft.

Resolution Supporting Bump Day Introduced

Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA-06) introduced House Resolution 603, supporting Bump Day, a global day of maternal health awareness, action, and advocacy. The resolution reaffirms the United States' continued leadership to end preventable maternal deaths in the United States and globally.

Mom Economy Resolution Introduced

Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Representative Grace Meng (D-NY-06) introduced the Mom Economy Resolution (S.Res.306/H.Res.605). The resolution recognizes that the United States needs to support and strengthen mothers in the workforce by investing in the Mom Economy, including through investments in paid family and medical leave. Read the press release.

USDA Food and Nutrition Assistance Landscape: Fiscal Year 2022 Annual Report

The U.S. Department of Agriculture released the "Food and Nutrition Assistance Landscape: Fiscal Year 2022 Annual Report." The report examines program trends and policy changes in USDA's largest U.S. food and nutrition assistance programs through FY 2022. It also highlights the steps the USDA took to respond to the recent infant formula crisis.

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Funding Opportunities

Appalachian Community Fund: "Technical Assistance." 

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News & Views

Michelson 20mm: "One Step Closer to Closing the Equity Gap: How Updates to Title IX Will Better Protect and Support Pregnant and Parenting Students"

USDA: "Third Meeting of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee will be held on September 12-13, 2023, and will Include Oral Public Comments"