Weekly Wire: Staying Abreast: White House PUMP & PWFA Celebration & more

In this issue:

• USBC Updates
  • USBC Staff Attend PUMP Act & PWFA Celebration with White House Gender Policy Council
  • Weekly Wire Hiatus
• Special Section on Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
• International News
  • Breastfeeding Advocacy Toolkit Features New Resources
  • Green Feeding Tool Calculates Environmental Impact of Infant Feeding Outcome
• National News
  • Call for Comments on CDC Infant Feeding Practices Study
  • AHRQ Research Protocol on Breastfeeding and Health Outcomes for Infants and Children
  • National Defense Authorization Act Bill Advances With Provision Expanding Paternity Leave
  • Kids Fly Safe Act Introduced in House and Senate With Provision to Evaluate Accessibility of Lactation Spaces
  • Equality Act Introduced in House and Senate to Prohibit Discrimination
• State & Community News
  • Paid Family Leave for State Employees Signed Into Law in Nevada
  • Law Requiring Insurance Coverage of Donor Milk Signed by Maine Governor
  • State-Specific Webinars on Workplace Protections for Pregnant and Postpartum Workers
• Funding Opportunities
• News & Views

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

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USBC Updates

USBC Staff Attend PUMP Act & PWFA Celebration with White House Gender Policy Council

The White House Gender Policy Council hosted an event titled "Celebrating the PWFA and PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act" this week. USBC Executive Director, Nikia Sankofa, and Senior Policy and Communications Manager, Cheryl Lebedevitch, attended as invited guests. The event highlighted the important protections for pregnant, postpartum, and nursing workers created by the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which went into effect on June 27, and the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act – both signed into law in December 2022 as part of the end-of-year omnibus appropriations law. The event highlighted the Administration's continued commitment to supporting women at work and protecting the health of pregnant and postpartum women. The program included a moderated discussion between senior Administration officials and workers, including former USBC Board Member To-Wen Tseng.

 

Weekly Wire Hiatus

The Weekly Wire will be on hiatus next week in observance of Independence Day. We look forward to connecting when we return!

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Special Section on Pregnant Workers Fairness Act

On June 27, 2023, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) went into effect. The PWFA is a landmark civil rights law that ensures pregnant and postpartum workers are not forced off the job, and get the accommodations they need, without facing discrimination or retaliation in the workplace. The PWFA guarantees workers the affirmative right to receive reasonable accommodations for known limitations stemming from pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, including lactation, unless the requested accommodations would pose an undue hardship to the employer. Highlights from the field on this new legislation include:

• ABB: A Better Balance released a report: "Winning The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act: An Inside Story and Lessons Learned from the Decade-Long Fight for Justice, Fairness, and Equality." The report documents the history of the decade-long movement to pass the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. 
• ABB/WLL: The Center for Worklife Law, in partnership with A Better Balance, developed the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act guide, designed to help workers who need changes at work for pregnancy, childbirth, lactation, or other related conditions understand their rights under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and learn how to ask for workplace changes. 
• ACLU/WLL: The Center for WorkLife Law and the American Civil Liberties Union published an explainer document: "What is the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act?" The explainer provides information on the rights to accommodation workers have under the PWFA, which employers are required to comply, and beyond. 
• EEOC: The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission released the "What You Should Know About the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act" webpage. The webpage features a variety of new and updated educational resources, including: 
  • Tips for workers to request accommodations infographic
  • “Know Your Rights” video series
  • PWFA poster for healthcare providers
  • Revised “Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal” poster
• NELA: The National Employment Lawyers Association is partnering with the Center for WorkLife Law and the American Civil Liberties Union to offer a webinar series titled "Pregnant and Nursing Workers Protections." The series of training briefings assists attorneys in utilizing the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act to achieve the accommodations their clients need and—when litigation is necessary—to obtain positive results.
• WLL: The Center for WorkLife Law released a document: "Pregnancy Accommodations Explained." The resource explains the reasons employees need changes at work because of pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, and identifies different reasonable accommodations that may help. The detailed guide may be useful to workers, HR professionals, and lawyers. 

PWFA News & Views

• ABC News: "Pregnant Workers Fairness Act goes into effect; set to help millions of women"
• A Better Balance: "As Pregnant Workers Fairness Act Becomes Law Today, Millions of Pregnant and Postpartum Workers Have Gained Crucial Protections for Health & Economic Security"
• American Civil Liberties Union: "The Historic New Law Protecting Fairness for Pregnant Workers"
• Axios: "New law protecting pregnant workers set to take effect — and it's a big deal"
• Center for WorkLife Law: "Celebrating the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act"
• EEOC: "EEOC Starts Accepting Charges Under New Pregnant Workers Fairness Act"
• Essence: "Pregnant Workers Are Now Officially Required To Receive Fair Conditions Thanks To A New Law"
• Fortune: "The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act goes into effect today. Here’s what workers and employers should know"
• Legal Aid at Work: "Legal Aid at Work Celebrates Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act"
• Motherly: "Know your rights: 6 facts about the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and PUMP Act"
• Scary Mommy: "New Law Requires ‘Reasonable Accommodations’ For Working Pregnant & Postpartum People"
• The New York Times: "A New Law Aims to Stop Pregnancy Discrimination at Work"
• WBUR: "What pregnant workers should know about their rights ahead of new federal law"

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International News

Breastfeeding Advocacy Toolkit Features New Resources

The Global Breastfeeding Collective updated the "Breastfeeding Advocacy Toolkit." This toolkit is a comprehensive collection of advocacy tools and resources for breastfeeding advocates aimed at improving policies and financing for the protection, promotion, and support of breastfeeding. The toolkit is intended for breastfeeding advocates and other stakeholders seeking information and tools to support the Collective's seven policy actions.

Green Feeding Tool Calculates Environmental Impact of Infant Feeding Outcomes

The Australian National University (ANU) launched the "Green Feeding Tool." The tool calculates the carbon and water footprints of commercial milk formula and helps illustrate the carbon offset that could be achieved by increasing breastfeeding rates, and reducing commercial milk formula use. By helping to mobilize action and motivate upscaling of investments, this tool aims to ensure more significant investments and resources are allocated towards enabling women and children to realize their human rights, including breastfeeding.

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National News

 Call for Comments on CDC Infant Feeding Practices Study

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a notice inviting comments on the "Feeding My Baby and Me: Infant Feeding Practices Study III (FMB&M–IFPS III)" project. This study is designed to understand the current state of mothers' intentions, behaviors, feeding decisions, and practices from pregnancy through their child's first two years of life. The longitudinal study will follow pregnant women and their new babies for two years. Data will be collected using web-based surveys at multiple time points over two years. This includes: (1) a prenatal survey; (2) 14 follow-up surveys after the baby is born; and (3) 2–4 maternal dietary data recalls. The deadline for submitting written comments is Tuesday, August 8. 

 AHRQ Research Protocol on Breastfeeding and Health Outcomes for Infants and Children

The Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) Program at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) posted the research protocol for "Breastfeeding and Health Outcomes for Infants and Children." The purpose of the review is to provide a synthesis of the current evidence on the association between breastfeeding/consumption of human milk and a range of health outcomes in infants and children. The protocol describes the purpose and scope of the review, the key questions, and inclusion/exclusion criteria about what types of studies will be included. The deadline to submit comments is Wednesday, July 26. 

National Defense Authorization Act Bill Advances With Provision Expanding Paternity Leave

The House Armed Services Committee held a markup and voted to advance the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024 (H.R.2670) with bipartisan support. The legislation included an amendment to expand parental leave eligibility for fathers and adoptive parents serving in the drilling Reserve and National Guard. Currently, leave policies for drill members are limited to new mothers. Read the press release. 

Kids Fly Safe Act Introduced in House and Senate With Provision to Evaluate Accessibility of Lactation Spaces

Senator Ossoff (D-GA) and Representative Williams (D-GA-5) introduced the Kids Fly Safe Act (S.1683/H.R.3551). The bill would require the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct a comprehensive study on child safety in aviation, including an evaluation of the extent to which diaper changing stations and areas designated for breastfeeding are accessible in airport terminals.

Equality Act Introduced in House and Senate to Prohibit Discrimination

A group of Senators and Representatives introduced the Equality Act (S. 5/H.R. 15). The bill would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation in public accommodation, federal funding, employment, housing, and juries. The legislation findings note that women have faced discrimination in many establishments, including sexual harassment, differential pricing for substantially similar products and services, and denial of services because they are pregnant or breastfeeding.

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State & Community News

Paid Family Leave for State Employees Signed Into Law in Nevada

Nevada Governor Lombardo signed Assembly Bill AB376 into law. The bill establishes provisions governing paid family leave for state employees. The law provides eight weeks of paid family leave over the course of a 12-month period to bond with a newborn child or newly adopted child, recover from or undergo treatment for a serious illness, care for a seriously ill family member, or participate in a qualifying event resulting from the military deployment to a foreign country of an immediate family member.

Law Requiring Insurance Coverage of Donor Milk Signed by Maine Governor

Maine Governor Mills signed LD 267 into law. The law requires private health insurance plans to provide insurance coverage for pasteurized donor breast milk for eligible infants when ordered by a health care provider.

State-Specific Webinars on Workplace Protections for Pregnant and Postpartum Workers

The U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division and Women’s Bureau, and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission are teaming up with local partners for a series of webinars on workplace protections for pregnant and postpartum workers. The free webinars will help workers understand protections afforded under federal and state law and how to talk to their employers and assert their rights. The webinar will also equip advocates with information to assist new and expecting mothers seeking to assert their workplace rights. Upcoming presentations include:

• Nevada: The "What to Expect from Your Employer when You're Expecting" webinar will be held on Tuesday, July 18, from 3-4:30 p.m. ET.
• New York: The "What to Expect from Your Employer When You’re Expecting (New York State)" webinar will be held on Thursday, July 6, from 10-11:30 a.m. ET.
• Tennessee: The "What to Expect from Your Employer When You're Expecting: Tennessee" webinar will be held on Tuesday, July 11, from 2-4 p.m. ET.

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Funding Opportunities

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation: "Special Initiatives Grant Program." Application deadline: September 11.

HRSA: "Maternity Care Nursing Workforce Expansion (MatCare) Program." Application deadline: July 14.

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News & Views

Consumer Product Safety Commission: "CPSC and The Boppy Company Urge Consumers to Stop Using Recalled Boppy Newborn Loungers and Urge Online Marketplaces to Stop Selling the Recalled Product; Two Additional Infant Deaths Reported Shortly After 2021 Recall"

Education Week: "Paid Parental Leave for Teachers Is Happening in More States and Districts"

HHS: "Draft Protocols of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Now Online at DietaryGuidelines.gov"

 Lactation Education Resources: "New AAP Policies: What You Need to Know"

 Mamava: "Supporting Every Body: How Faculty and Students Increased Campus Lactation Spaces"

New Jersey Education Association: "Advocating for members’ lactation rights"