[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 105 (Monday, September 11, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8342-S8343]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENT ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      Ms. SNOWE:
  S. 3023. A bill to amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to protect 
breastfeeding by new mothers; to the Committee on Health, Education, 
Labor, and Pensions


            pregnancy discrimination act amendments of 2000

  Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Pregnancy 
Discrimination Act Amendments of 2000. This bill would clarify that the 
Pregnancy Discrimination Act protects breastfeeding under civil rights 
law, requiring that a woman cannot be fired or discriminated against in 
the workplace for expressing breast milk during her own lunch time or 
break time.
  When Congress passed the Pregnancy Discrimination Act in 1978, I 
wonder if any of my colleagues considered the definition of 
``pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions'' delineated in 
this law would not include breastfeeding. But unfortunately, courts 
across the country have not interpreted the Pregnancy Discrimination 
Act to include breastfeeding.
  According to the U.S. Department of Labor, women with infants and 
toddlers are the fastest growing segment of today's labor force. At 
least 50 percent of women who are employed when they become pregnant 
return to the labor force by the time their children are three months 
old. Although the Pregnancy Discrimination Act was enacted in 1978 and 
prohibits workplace discrimination on the basis of pregnancy, 
childbirth, or related medical conditions, courts have not interpreted 
the Act to include breastfeeding.
  Some employers deny women the opportunity to express milk; some women 
have been discharged for requesting to express milk during lunch and 
other regular breaks; some women have been harassed or discriminated 
against; some women have had their pay withheld or been taken off of 
shift work for saying that they wanted to pump milk.
  On the other hand, many employers have seen positive results from 
facilitating lactation programs in the workplace, including low 
absenteeism, high productivity, improved company loyalty, high employee 
morale, and lower health care costs. Parental absenteeism due to infant 
illness is three times greater among the parents of formula-fed 
children than those that are breastfed. Worksite programs that aim to 
improve infant health may also bring about a reduction in parental 
absenteeism and health insurance costs.
  There is no doubt as to the health benefit breastfeeding brings to 
both mothers and children. Breastmilk is easily digested and 
assimilated, and contains all the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients 
they require in their first five to six months of life. Furthermore, 
important antibodies, proteins, immune cells, and growth factors that 
can only be found in breast milk. Breastmilk is the first line of 
immunization defense and enhances the effectiveness of vaccines given 
to infants.
  Research studies show that children who are not breastfed have higher 
rates of mortality, meningitis, some types of cancers, asthma and other 
respiratory illnesses, bacterial and viral infections, diarrhoeal 
diseases, ear infections, allergies, and obesity. Other research 
studies have shown that breastmilk and breastfeeding have protective 
effects against the development of a number of chronic diseases, 
including juvenile diabetes, lymphomas, Crohn's disease, celiac 
disease, some chronic liver diseases, and ulcerative colitis. A number 
of studies have shown that breastfed children have higher IQs at all 
ages.
  Mr. President, this is a simple bill--it simply inserts the word 
``breastfeeding'' in the Pregnancy Discrimination Act. It will change 
the law to read that employment discrimination ``because of or on the 
basis of pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medication 
conditions'' is not permitted.
  I believe that it is absolutely critical to support mothers across 
the country--they are, of course, raising the very future of our 
country. And we should ensure that the Pregnancy Discrimination Act 
covers this basic fundamental part of mothering.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in sponsoring this bill.
                                 ______
                                 
      Mr. ROBB (for himself, Mr. L. Chafee, and Mr. Moynihan):
  S. 3024. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to 
provide for coverage of glaucoma detection services under part B of the 
Medicare Program; to the Committee on Finance.

[[Page S8343]]

              the medicare glaucoma detection act of 2000

  Mr. ROBB. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Medicare 
Glaucoma Detection Act of 2000. I'm pleased to be joined in its 
introduction by my colleagues Senator Chafee and Senator Moynihan.
  Mr. President, the Medicare Glaucoma Detection Act follows suit in a 
series of preventive health proposals I've cosponsored to help Medicare 
beneficiaries take a more active role in their health care. Reforming 
Medicare by adding preventive benefits recognizes that it is much more 
cost effective to prevent illness than to treat it. Over the past 
several years, Congress has expanded Medicare's preventive benefits, 
adding screening and detection services like mammography, bone mass 
measurements and screening for prostate and colorectal cancer to help 
Medicare beneficiaries. It is now time to add another important 
prevention benefit to Medicare: screening for glaucoma.
  The Medicare Glaucoma Detection Act of 2000 will give seniors access 
to the best defense against glaucoma--complete eye examinations on a 
regular basis. Glaucoma is a significant cause of legal blindness in 
this country and is the single most common cause of irreversible 
blindness among African-Americans. In fact, the prevalence of glaucoma 
is an astounding four to six times higher in African-Americans that the 
rest of the population.
  Glaucoma is often called ``the silent thief of sight'' because the 
afflicted person has no warning sign, no hint that anything is wrong. 
Over the years, the increased buildup of pressure causes damage to the 
optic nerve in the back of the eyes. Because the disease does not show 
any symptoms until considerable damage has been done, coverage of 
regularly scheduled exams is a critical step in controlling the 
disease. If detected in the early stages, glaucoma can be effectively 
treated to prevent loss of vision.
  The bill I am introducing today will establish a Medicare glaucoma 
detection benefit that follows the guidelines set forth by the American 
Academy of Ophthalmology, which recommend that individuals 60 years of 
age or older with a family history of glaucoma receive a glaucoma 
screening once every two years. Too many of America's seniors are in 
danger of losing their vision--an estimated 120,000 persons are legally 
blind due to glaucoma. This bill is the first step toward reversing 
that trend.
  Mr. President, it's important to note that blindness is not simply a 
medical problem--the costs of glaucoma are both the personal loss of 
sight and the economic costs to the individual and society associated 
with blindness. Annual costs to the government associated with 
blindness are estimated at more than four billion dollars. Moreover, 
eyesight is a gift that allows seniors to maintain their independence. 
By helping preserve the ability of seniors to cook, to shop, to drive, 
to care for themselves and to recognize family and friends, the 
Medicare Glaucoma Detection Act of 2000 will allow seniors to stay 
independent longer.
  We do not yet have a cure for glaucoma, but blindness from glaucoma 
can be prevented through early detection and treatment. I urge each of 
my colleagues to support this bill's passage.

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