U.S. Congresswomen Trying to Help Working Moms Milk It
U.S. Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), along with Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), introduced the bill before a crowd of nursing mothers in front of the Capitol. The legislation would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to protect breastfeeding mothers from discrimination in the workplace, require large employers to provide the time and private space moms need to express milk, and provides for tax incentives for employers that establish private lactation areas in the workplace. It would also establish performance standards for breast pumps.
“ ‘The Breastfeeding Promotion Act’ recognizes both scientific fact and the way Americans live now: human milk is the best nutrient for new babies-- and most mothers have to go back to work during a child’s first year, when breastfeeding is most important,” Rep. Maloney said.
According to a study published in the Journal of Human Lactation, more than half of the women in the United States with children under one year of age work outside the home. In 2004, the breastfeeding rate initiation was 66.2%, but by six months it dropped to 31.4%, and at a year, to 17.6%. However, working mothers had the most dramatic drop in rates, with only 22.8% at six months and 10.6% at a year.
“This bill is needed now more than ever, as moms head back to work earlier than ever during this recession. I hope that with Senator Merkley’s good efforts, we can get this bill to the President,” Maloney concluded.
This Act would require employers with over 50 employees to provide a private space and time for mothers breastfeeding for pumping, but would not necessarily require that time be on the clock, just that they offer unpaid time off during the workday for mothers to express milk.
The Cigna Corporation conducted a survey to evaluate some of the health practices and health outcomes of female employees and their newborn dependents. On average Cigna discovered mothers of 3-month old infants express breast milk at work just over twice a day. Less than one-fifth of mothers spend more than an hour expressing breast milk. Mothers with 6-month-old infants express breast milk at work just under twice per day on average. Five percent require more than an hour during the workday to express breast milk. There was a significant difference in the frequency and time involve in expressing breast milk for younger infants compared to older infants, but there was no difference in the number of days worked.
Senator Merkley, who championed a workplace breastfeeding bill in Oregon two years ago, is now behind this lactation legislation at the federal level.
“It’s not every day we have the opportunity to enact legislation that is so clearly a win-win for families and our nation. Making it easier for moms to breastfeed means we have healthier babies, stronger families and happier workers,” Sen. Merkley said. “I championed Oregon’s breastfeeding bill two years ago. I’m excited to see…all those who have long advocated the purely common sense notion that breast milk is best.”
Several breastfeeding advocacy groups have already thrown their support behind this bill. In fact, a Facebook page called Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009 (HR2819 and S1244) helps organize backers of the bill. It provides details on the legislation, the latest updates on the bill’s status in Congress and a section where supporters can download a letter to send to their Representatives and Senators. The link to that site is: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=101879159975&ref=mf.
Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA) was also present at the news conference. Capps is a registered nurse and co-sponsor of the Breastfeeding Promotion Act.
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