[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 119 (Monday, August 1, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1471]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           REINTRODUCTION OF THE BREASTFEEDING PROMOTION ACT

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                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, August 1, 2011

  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, today I am reintroducing an important 
piece of legislation, the Breastfeeding Promotion Act with my 
colleagues Mr. Meeks, Ms. Lee, and Mr. Serrano.
  The benefits of breastfeeding, to both mother and child, are 
significant. Scientific studies show babies who are breastfed the first 
six months of life have a greatly reduced risk for acute and chronic 
disease, yet only 10 percent of all infants in the U.S. are breastfed.
  A 2001 USDA study found that if just half of the babies in the U.S. 
were exclusively breastfed for six months (as recommended by the 
American Academy of Pediatrics), our Nation would realize a savings of 
$3.6 billion in health care costs for the three leading childhood 
illnesses alone. According to the United States Breastfeeding 
Committee, if we replicate that study based on current breastfeeding 
statistics, the savings could reach nearly $14 billion in health care 
costs for all childhood illnesses in a single year.
  I was so proud to partner with Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) to pass 
into law a provision of our bill, the Breastfeeding Promotion Act (H.R. 
2819, S. 1744), in comprehensive health care reform legislation signed 
by President Obama on March 23, 2010. The provision requires that 
employers provide breastfeeding employees, who are hourly workers, with 
``reasonable break time'' and a private, non-bathroom place to express 
breast milk during the workday, up until the child's first birthday.
  Our bill will build on our past successes and encourage and promote 
breastfeeding by removing common obstacles to breastfeeding and 
expressing milk in the workplace that many women face by: (1) amending 
the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to protect breastfeeding in the workplace, 
and (2) expanding the requirement under current law for employers to 
provide break time to express breast milk, as well as make reasonable 
efforts to provide a private place for them to do so, to salaried 
workers in traditional work or office environments.
  Public opinion and awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding 
continue to grow, and the momentum we've recently gained presents the 
perfect opportunity to build on that progress in achieving our goals.
  We urge all of our colleagues to support this important legislation.

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