[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 85 (Wednesday, May 18, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H5104-H5105]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
LACTATION SPACES FOR VETERAN MOMS ACT
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 5738) to amend title 38, United States Code, to require a
lactation space in each medical center of the Department of Veterans
Affairs, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 5738
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 ``Lactation Spaces for Veteran
Moms Act''.
[[Page H5105]]
SEC. 2. LACTATION SPACES IN MEDICAL CENTERS OF THE DEPARTMENT
OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 17 of title 38,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following new section:
``Sec. 1720K. Lactation spaces in medical centers of the
Department
``(a) Lactation Space Required.--The Secretary shall ensure
that each medical center of the Department contains a
lactation space.
``(b) No Unauthorized Entry.--Nothing in this section shall
be construed to authorize an individual to enter a medical
center of the Department or portion thereof that the
individual is not otherwise authorized to enter.
``(c) Lactation Space Defined.--In this section, the term
`lactation space' means a hygienic place, other than a
bathroom, that--
``(1) is shielded from view;
``(2) is free from intrusion;
``(3) is accessible to disabled individuals (including such
individuals who use wheelchairs);
``(4) contains a chair and a working surface;
``(5) is easy to locate;
``(6) is clearly identified with signage; and
``(7) is available for use by women veterans and members of
the public to express breast milk.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the
beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the
item related to section 1720J the following new item:
``1720K. Lactation spaces in medical centers of the Department.''.
(c) Effective Date.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs
shall carry out section 1720K of title 38, United States
Code, as added by this section, not later than two years
after the date of the enactment of this Act.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Takano) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
General Leave
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
to insert extraneous material on H.R. 5738, as amended.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise in strong support for H.R. 5738, as amended, the Lactation
Spaces for Veteran Moms Act introduced by Chairwoman Luria. The purpose
of this bill is to ensure that each Department of Veterans Affairs
Medical Center contain a hygienic lactation space that is not a
bathroom.
This legislation requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to
provide essential spaces to serve nursing individuals and veteran
mothers which are shielded from view, contain a chair and work surface,
are free from intrusion, and are accessible to disabled individuals.
These spaces should also be easy to locate with clear, identifiable
signs, and readily available for veteran moms.
This bill is endorsed by numerous veterans service organizations
including the National Veterans Legal Services Program, Paralyzed
Veterans of America, Disabled American Veterans, and Veterans of
Foreign Wars.
Women veterans make up the fastest-growing community within the
veteran population. In order to adequately meet their needs, VA needs
to provide culturally competent care and resources to ensure they will
feel comfortable when they seek care at a VA facility.
This legislation, which ensures safe, dedicated spaces for lactation,
further advances VA's mission to create a more welcoming and inclusive
environment at its facilities.
Women veterans face many challenges accessing essential VA care
benefits. The Lactation Spaces for Veteran Moms Act ensures VA
eliminates barriers that may discourage veteran moms from utilizing
those benefits.
A vote in support of this bill is a vote for women veterans and shows
our dedication to ensuring VA delivers equitable and safe spaces for
veteran moms.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5738, the Lactation Spaces for
Veteran Moms Act. One of my priorities is strengthening services for
women veterans. This bill would do that by ensuring that VA medical
facilities have safe, clean, private spaces for them to use for
breastfeeding.
VA is already required to create these spaces for VA employees. It is
only right that we give veteran mothers who use VA facilities the
ability to take care of their families this way as well.
I am grateful to Congresswoman Luria and Congresswoman Herrera
Beutler for their work on this legislation. I urge all of my colleagues
to join me in support of it today.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Virginia (Mrs. Luria), my good friend, author of H.R. 5738, and the
chair of the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee.
Mrs. LURIA. Mr. Speaker, as a mother myself, I rise today in support
of the Lactation Spaces for Veteran Moms Act, a bipartisan bill that
would ensure every medical facility managed by the Department of
Veterans Affairs contains a lactation space.
Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler joined me in introducing this
bill in 2021, and I thank her for her leadership on this issue. This is
an issue where Congress has worked together in a bipartisan manner, and
we know that more work like this needs to be done.
In 2019, the Fairness for Breastfeeding Mothers Act was signed into
law. That legislation required public buildings containing public
restrooms to also provide a hygienic space, other than a restroom, for
mothers to express milk, not only for employees, but for members of the
public as well.
Today, there are 90 VA facilities across the country with designated
nursing rooms, but today these spaces are for employees of the VA only,
not veteran mothers as well.
The bipartisan Lactation Spaces for Veteran Moms Act expands access
to clean, safe, and convenient lactation spaces for all VA medical
facilities throughout the country for women who have served our Nation
and our military families.
My legislation requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure
that every medical facility managed by the VA contains a lactation
space which is a hygienic place, other than a restroom, is shielded
from view, is accessible to disabled individuals as well, contains a
chair and a working surface, and is available for use by female
veterans, employees of the Department, and members of the public.
Congress must do more to support our veteran mothers and the
Lactation Spaces for Veteran Moms Act will improve the quality of life
for many of the women who have served our Nation and our military
families, while they are accessing VA facilities.
I am grateful for the overwhelming support from my colleagues on both
sides of the aisle for this important issue, and I advise my colleagues
to advance this legislation favorably and ensure that the resources are
available for every woman who visits VA facilities.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this
bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in
passing this very important legislation, H.R. 5738, as amended, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 5738, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. HICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion
are postponed.
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