[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 112 (Thursday, June 29, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3861-S3862]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DAINES (for himself and Mr. Merkley):
  S. 1497. A bill to amend title 40, United States Code, to provide a 
lactation room in public buildings, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Environment and Public Works.
  Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:
  Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, as a father of four and a traveling 
family, I know how important and challenging it is for nursing mothers 
to find a space to care for and feed their children. As our society and 
economy becomes ever more transient, we need to provide spaces for 
mothers on the go and ease their return to the workforce. Last 
Congress, I helped ensure the Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment 
Screening Act became law, which eased the burden traveling mothers 
experienced. We need to continue easing this burden and expand 
facilities in public buildings.
  Federal agencies, under current law, are required to provide space 
for nursing mothers to pump breastmilk for their newborns. 
Additionally, General Services Administration requires installation of 
these spaces for all newly constructed federal buildings, as well as 
those undergoing modernizations. These rooms are a simple hygienic 
place, other than a bathroom, that are shielded from view, free from 
intrusion, contain a chair, a table surface, and an electrical outlet. 
This is good policy and should be extended to the public when visiting 
Federal facilities for business or other purposes.
  That is why I am introducing the Fairness For Breastfeeding Mothers 
Act. This legislation would simply extend the use of these facilities 
in public buildings to visitors, ensuring all mothers can continue to 
care for their children.
  I want to thank Senator Merkley for being the Democrat lead as well 
as Congresswoman Norton's lead in the House of Representatives. I ask 
my Senate colleagues to join us in support of this important 
legislation.

                                S. 1497

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Fairness For Breastfeeding 
     Mothers Act of 2017''.

     SEC. 2. LACTATION ROOMS IN PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

       (a) In General.--Chapter 33 of title 40, United States 
     Code, is amended--
       (1) by redesignating sections 3315, 3316, and 3317 as 
     sections 3316, 3317, and 3318, respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after section 3314 the following:

     ``Sec. 3315. Lactation rooms in public buildings

       ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
       ``(1) Appropriate authority.--The term `appropriate 
     authority' means--
       ``(A) the head of a Federal agency;

[[Page S3862]]

       ``(B) the Architect of the Capitol; and
       ``(C) another official authority responsible for the 
     operation of a public building.
       ``(2) Covered public building.--
       ``(A) In general.--The term `covered public building' means 
     a public building that--
       ``(i) is open to the public; and
       ``(ii) contains a public restroom.
       ``(B) Inclusion.--The term `covered public building' 
     includes a building listed in section 5101 or 6301.
       ``(3) Lactation room.--The term `lactation room' means a 
     hygienic place, other than a bathroom, that--
       ``(A) is shielded from view;
       ``(B) is free from intrusion; and
       ``(C) contains--
       ``(i) a chair;
       ``(ii) a working surface; and
       ``(iii) if the public building is supplied with 
     electricity, an electrical outlet.
       ``(b) Lactation Rooms Required.--Except as provided in 
     subsection (c), the appropriate authority of a covered public 
     building shall ensure that the building contains a lactation 
     room that is made available for use by members of the public 
     to express breast milk.
       ``(c) Exceptions.--A covered public building may be 
     excluded from the requirement in subsection (b) at the 
     discretion of the appropriate authority if--
       ``(1) the public building--
       ``(A) does not contain a lactation room for employees who 
     work in the building; and
       ``(B) does not have a room that could be repurposed as a 
     lactation room or a space that could be made private using 
     portable materials, at a reasonable cost; or
       ``(2) new construction would be required to create a 
     lactation room in the public building and the cost of the 
     construction is not feasible.
       ``(d) No Unauthorized Entry.--Nothing in this section 
     authorizes an individual to enter a public building or 
     portion of a public building that the individual is not 
     otherwise authorized to enter.''.
       (b) Technical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 
     33 of title 40, United States Code, is amended by striking 
     the items relating to sections 3315 through 3317 and 
     inserting the following:

``3315. Lactation rooms in public buildings.
``3316. Delegation.
``3317. Report to Congress.
``3318. Certain authority not affected.''.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall take effect 1 year after the date of enactment of this 
     Act.
                                 ______