[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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