Weekly Wire: USBC Annual Conference Registration & Sponsorship Opportunities, President's Budget Analysis, and more

In this issue:

• USBC Updates
  • President's Budget Analysis: What It Means for the Lactation Field
  • USBC Conference Registration is Open: Early Bird Rate Available Until April 30
  • Sponsorship and Marketing Opportunities Now Available at USBC Conference!
  • Still Accepting Applications for Data Management Specialist Position
  • Explore & Get Featured in the Equity Champions Directory
• International News
  • UNICEF Report on Global Nutrition Crisis Among Adolescent Girls and Women
• National News
  • Great Lakes Webinar on Supporting Young Parents and Breastfeeding
  • New CDC Data on Maternal Mortality Rates in the U.S.
  • U.S. Launch of 2023 Lancet Series on Breastfeeding
  • FDA Letter to Infant Formula Industry
  • ASTHO Webinar on Reducing Maternal Morbidity and Mortality through Perinatal Workforce
• State & Community News
  • Human Milk Banking Bill Introduced in New York
  • Webinar for Pennsylvania Advocates and Employers on Workplace Lactation Support
  • Tennessee Bill Introduced to Provide Paid Parental Leave for Teachers
• News & Views
• Journal Publications

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

---

USBC Updates

President's Budget Analysis: What It Means for the Lactation Field

The U.S. Breastfeeding completed a detailed analysis of the Fiscal Year 2024 President's Budget on the Federal Appropriations For Breastfeeding webpage. Each federal budget is developed for what is called a Fiscal Year, which begins on October 1 and runs through September 30 of the following year. The President's budget is the first step in the negotiation process, which will continue in the House and Senate in the coming months. This is an important policy area for the lactation field. Each year funding is allocated through the federal appropriations process to a variety of federal programs that include breastfeeding support. Appropriations for breastfeeding have helped build and strengthen critical programs and initiatives to improve maternity care practices, increase access to peer & professional support, ensure continuity of lactation care, increase support for lactating employees, and address disparities in breastfeeding rates. Funding relevant to the breastfeeding field is primarily included in the Labor-HHS and Agriculture appropriations bills.

The President's budget proposal for fiscal year 2024 includes level funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Hospitals Promoting Breastfeeding program at $9.75 million, and the WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor program at $90 million. One of the most notable provisions in the President's proposal is $325 billion to establish a national paid family and medical leave program, providing up to 12 weeks of leave for eligible employees.

The next step in the federal budget process is for the House and Senate appropriations committees to draft and hold markups for each of the 12 annual spending bills. The USBC has submitted appropriations requests with appropriator offices in both the House and Senate, advocating for an increase in funding for the CDC Hospitals Promoting Breastfeeding program to $20M. The USBC will be closely monitoring and mobilizing the field to support federal funding for lactation programs. Stay tuned for news and action opportunities! To learn more about how federal funding for breastfeeding is making a difference where you live, download your state or territory breastfeeding report. 

USBC Conference Registration is Open: Early Bird Rate Available Until April 30

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.

Sponsorship and Marketing Opportunities Now Available at USBC Conference!

The 2023 NBCC Marketing & Sponsorship Application Form is now open! If you are interested in organizational visibility at this year's USBC annual conference, we are providing the opportunity to sponsor a special event or item, purchase an exhibitor's booth, and access additional advertising opportunities. Visit the 2023 NBCC Marketing Prospectus and webpage to learn about conference sponsorship and marketing opportunities and pricing at this year's convening. Space is extremely limited at our first in-person gathering in three years, so this is a great opportunity to maximize sponsor visibility!

Still Accepting Applications for Data Management Specialist Position

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee is still accepting applications for the Data Management Specialist job opening. This is a full-time, remote position that is open to applicants that are residents of CA, IL, MD, MA, OH, or OR, where employer registration and administrative compliance is already established. Learn more about our process and culture on our Careers webpage. Please share the opportunity with qualified and interested candidates in your networks!

Explore & Get Featured in the Equity Champions Directory

The USBC hosts the Equity Champions Directory, a resource for individuals and organizations to find support in operationalizing diversity, equity, and inclusion within their internal structures, policies, and programs. The directory is free and accessible on the USBC website. If your organization is committed to taking the next step in its equity journey, we encourage you to visit the directory to review and connect with the equity coaches, consultants, trainers, speakers, and evaluators listed therein. To be considered for inclusion in the directory, we invite you to tell us about your expertise using the submission form. Please note that the inclusion of an individual in the Equity Champions Directory does not signify USBC endorsement of training content or views.

---

International News

UNICEF Report on Global Nutrition Crisis Among Adolescent Girls and Women

The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund released a report titled "Undernourished and Overlooked: A Global Nutrition Crisis in Adolescent Girls and Women." The report sheds a light on the state of undernutrition among adolescent girls and women across the globe and lists a series of recommendations for governments, highlighting that around 70% of girls and women suffer from nutritional deficiencies that have far-reaching health and economic effects. Additionally, the report shows that acute malnutrition among pregnant and breastfeeding women increased by 25% between 2020 and 2022, especially in Africa and the Middle East. Media highlights include:

• Forbes: "Undernourished And Overlooked: New UNICEF Report Reveals Global Nutrition Crisis For Women And Girls"

---

National News

 Great Lakes Webinar on Supporting Young Parents and Breastfeeding

The Michigan Breastfeeding Network released a Great Lakes Breastfeeding Webinar titled "Young Parents and the Importance of Breastfeeding." The webinar will feature a discussion on the inequities young parents in marginalized communities face due to a lack of social support systems, resources, and knowledge around birthing, parenting, and breastfeeding. The discussion is designed to equip birth workers with the knowledge to adequately empower young parents with breastfeeding support. Continuing education is available through March 19, 2024. 

 New CDC Data on Maternal Mortality Rates in the U.S.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics released a Health e-Stats report titled "Maternal Mortality Rates in the United States, 2021." The report presents new data on 2021 maternal mortality rates in the United States, showing a significant increase in maternal mortality compared to 2019 and 2020 rates. The maternal mortality rate in 2021 was 32.9 deaths per 100,000 live births, which is a significant increase from the rate of 23.8 in 2020 and 20.1 in 2019. The increase in maternal mortality rates between 2020 and 2021 was significant across all race groups. The number of maternal deaths among Black women was significantly higher than rates for White and Hispanic women. Media highlights include:

• CNN: "US maternal death rate rose sharply in 2021, CDC data shows, and experts worry the problem is getting worse"

U.S. Launch of 2023 Lancet Series on Breastfeeding

The Global Breastfeeding Collective announced the "USA Launch: The 2023 Lancet Series on Breastfeeding" will be held on Tuesday, April 18, at 11 a.m. ET. The authors of the 2023 Lancet Series on Breastfeeding, with a panel of experts, will unpack the new 3-paper series discussing infant behaviours, feeding practices, and multisectoral interventions to support breastfeeding; the commercial milk formula marketing 'playbook'; and the power, political and economic structures and their impact on infant feeding, health, and human rights. The event will be live-streamed, and registration is free but required for attendance.

FDA Letter to Infant Formula Industry

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a letter to powdered infant formula manufacturers, packers, distributors, exporters, importers, and retailers urging the industry to improve their processes for the protection of infants nationwide and disclose any product contamination. An FDA Constituent Update was released to provide further information and context to the issued letter. The FDA also updated its industry guidance resources on the Infant Formula Guidance Documents & Regulatory Information webpage. Formula suppliers are already required to stop shipments if their product tests positive for salmonella, cronobacter, or other microbiological contaminants. However, immediate disclosure of a positive test to FDA remains voluntary.

ASTHO Webinar on Reducing Maternal Morbidity and Mortality through Perinatal Workforce

The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) is hosting a webinar for state health agency staff, national partners, federal funders, and clinicians titled "Leveraging the Community Perinatal Workforce to Reduce Maternal Morbidity and Mortality" on Thursday, March 30, at 2 p.m. ET. This webinar will discuss the role of the governmental public health system in leveraging the community perinatal workforce and will highlight the importance of engaging diverse providers to mitigate negative health outcomes for pregnant and birthing people. 

USBC Insight: A representative from the Nebraska Perinatal Quality Improvement Collaborative (NPQIC) will be on the speaker panel at this webinar. As noted in the 2023 Nebraska State Breastfeeding Report, the work NPQIC does in the state of Nebraska to support and improve the care for mothers and babies, includes efforts to improve hospital breastfeeding practices.

---

State & Community News

Human Milk Banking Bill Introduced in New York

New York State Assemblywomen Michaelle Solages and Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas introduced Assembly Bill A5390. The bill would require human breast milk banks, companies, and cooperatives to comply with certain standards and provide ongoing breastfeeding education and lactation support to participating mothers.

Webinar for Pennsylvania Advocates and Employers on Workplace Lactation Support

The Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics is hosting a webinar titled "Supporting Lactation in the Workplace Webinar 2" on April 12, 2023, at 12 p.m. ET. The webinar is part two of a two-part series, and will describe federal and Pennsylvania state laws related to worksite support for breastfeeding workers and provide a discussion for advocates and employers on how to improve lactation support in the workplace.

Tennessee Bill Introduced to Provide Paid Parental Leave for Teachers

Tennessee Representative Cameron Sexton and Senator Dawn White introduced HB 983/SB 1458. The bill would amend existing legislation to require local education agencies to provide licensed employees, including teachers, principles, and school personnel, with 12 paid weeks of leave after the birth or stillbirth of the employee's child. The bill would also cover paid leave for the adoption of a minor child. Highlights from the field include:

• A Better Balance: 
  • "FACT SHEET: Paid Parental Leave for Tennessee Teachers (HB 983/SB 1458)"
  • "Workers' Voices: Tennessee Teachers Like Me Need and Deserve Paid Parental Leave"

---

News & Views

Representative Young Kim press release: "Reps. Young Kim & Robin Kelly Announced as Co-Chairs of Bipartisan Maternity Care Caucus"

 MomsRising blog posts:

• "Pregnant or Pumping at Work? YOU have new legal rights!"
• "We're tired of being in the shadows, we need 12 weeks of Paid Leave!"

---

Journal Publications

BMC Public Health: "Race/ethnicity-specific associations between breastfeeding information source and breastfeeding rates among U.S. women"