Nurse-In to Support Federal Breastfeeding Promotion Act

Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) plans to re-introduce the federal Breastfeeding Promotion Act on May 10, 2007. If you’re in the Washington, DC area, you can show your support for the legislation by participating in a nurse-in on Capitol Hill on May 10. A strong showing is needed to make a difference as several previous attempts to pass such legislation have stalled in the House Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations.

Representative Maloney’s aide Elizabeth Down shared these details with me:

WHAT:
“NURSE-IN” to introduce the Breastfeeding Promotion Act

WHO:
Nursing mothers
Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY)
Congressman Chris Shays (R-CT)
Others to be announced

WHEN:
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Thursday, May 10, 2007

WHERE:
Cannon Terrace
New Jersey and Independence Ave., SE
Washington, D.C. (Capitol Hill)
INCLEMENT WEATHER ROOM: TBD

The Breastfeeding Promotion Act (1) amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to protect breastfeeding by new mothers (specifically the Act expands the Pregnancy Discrimination Act to protect breastfeeding and expressing milk in the workplace), (2) provides tax incentives for businesses that establish private lactation areas in the workplace, (3) provides for a performance standard for breast pumps, and (4) allows breastfeeding equipment to be tax deductible for families. Ms. Down shared the final draft of the legislation to be introduced. I’ve uploaded the 12-page PDF file for you to read here.