Since the Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009 was first introduced in Congress a month ago, three new co-sponsors have committed to the bill (two from New York and one from Guam), bringing the total number of sponsors up to 13 in the House and two in the Senate. Senator Jeff Merkley, the original sponsor in the Senate, offered the Breastfeeding Promotion Act as an amendment to the Senate Health Committee health care reform bill and it was accepted! While it may not make the final cut, this is tremendous progress! The D.C. Breastfeeding Coalition promises to let us know when …read more

Nursing mothers have Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) to thank for her tireless attempts to see a Breastfeeding Promotion Act passed in Congress. Last Thursday Representative Maloney and Senator Jeff Merkley announced the introduction of the Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009 (H.R. 2819 / S. 1244).
Incredibly, this is the fifth time the Act has been up for consideration. Representative Maloney spoke to a crowd of nursing mothers on Capitol Hill:
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 …read more