Support the Breastfeeding Promotion Act 2009
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Representative Carolyn B. Maloney (NY) and Senator Jeff Merkley (OR) introduced the Breastfeeding Promotion Act in both houses of Congress on 11 June. This is the first time the bill has been introduced in the Senate.
Forty-seven states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have already implemented laws protecting breastfeeding mothers, but they are neither standardized and nor inclusive. Please ask your Representative and Senators to co-sponsor the Breastfeeding Promotion Act to support a national policy to keep familes healthy.
The Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009 (H.R. 2819, S, 1244) includes five provisions:
1) Amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which protect breastfeeding women from being fired or discriminated against at work.
2) Provides tax incentives for companies that create private lactation areas in the workplace or provide breastfeeding equiptment or cunsultation services for their employees.
3) Stipulates a performance standard ensuring breastpumps are safe and effective.
4) Ensures breastfeeding equiptment and consultations are tax deductible by amending the Internal Revenue Code of the definition of medical care.
5) Protects the privacy of breastfeeding mothers ensuring they have both breaks and a private place to pump. (This applies to employers with 50 or more employees).
Breastfeeding is good for mothers, babies, and familes as a whole translating through our society. Failure to breastfeed increases the baby’s risk of infections, diarrhea, SIDS, obesity, diabetes, asthma, and childhood leukemia, and increases the mother’s risk of breast and ovarian cancers and diabetes. Breastfeeding also has significant economic and environmental benefits for families, employers, and society. Take a look at the wealth of compelling reasons to breastfeed right here at Boobiefed.
All major medical authorities recommend that babies are breastfed exclusively for their first six months and continue to breastfeed for at least the first one to two years of life. Many mothers start off breastfeeding with good intentions but lack the support they need to make it a success. Only 12% of U.S. mothers continue to exclusively breastfeeding at six months and only 21% are still breastfeeding at one year.
Currently, 77% of women breastfeed their infants at birth but breastfeeding rates drop rapidly once they return home from the hospital. More than 50% of women with infants less than one year old have returned to work. Working mothers are more likely to stop breastfeeding early if they do not receive the support they need in the workplace.
Together we can change this! Tell Congress to support the Breastfeeding Promotion Act to provide the support mothers need.
Take action at: http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5162/t/6359/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=1697
The last time this act was introduced it failed to pass so let’s do everything we can to push it through this time around.
