Attention
Employers - Learn more about California Labor Code - Lactation Accommodation Law
in workplace.
Request more information or register at www.breastfeedingworks.org.
Health professionals and breastfeeding advocates who are interested in learning
how to support breastfeeding in the workplace are welcome also.
Department of Health Services - WIC
- California Lactation
Accommodation Law
Other Breastfeeding Legislation
information.
Download
AB 1025 here for details.
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here for printer
version of this section.
Updated October 2001
U.S. House of Representatives
2430 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
An Update From Representative Carolyn B. Maloney on
Breastfeeding Legislation
Thank you for your support in favor of Breastfeeding
initiatives and legislation. As many have expressed interest on current
activities, this is as an update of recent actions on Breastfeeding. H.R. 285,
The Breastfeeding Promotion Act was introduced on March 15,2001. This
legislation incorporates aspects of previous legislation that was not passed in
the last Congress, as well as an additional tenant - a tax exemption for
breastfeeding equipment.
The Breastfeeding Promotion Act includes four
provisions:
* Protects Breastfeeding Under Civil Rights Law: the bill
clarifies the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 to protect breastfeeding
under civil rights law. This will ensure that women cannot be fired or
discriminated against in the workplace for expressing milk or breastfeeding
during lunch or breaks.
* Provides Tax Incentives for Employers: with more than
half of mothers with infants (less than one year of age) in the work force, it
is important to promote a mother-friendly work environment. The bill encourages
employers to set up a safe, private, and sanitary environment for women to
express (or pump) breast milk by providing a tax credit for employers who set up
a lactation location, purchase or rent lactation-related equipment, hire a
lactation consultant or otherwise promote a lactation-friendly work environment.
Many companies would be able to receive a tax credit of up to fifty percent of
their related expenses.
* Seeks Minimum Safety Standards for Breast Pumps: the
bill requires the Food and Drug Administration to develop minimum quality
standards for breast pumps to ensure that products on the market are safe and
effective based on efficiency, effectiveness, and sanitation factors (in
addition to providing full and complete information concerning breast pump
equipment).
* Allows Breastfeeding Equipment to Be Tax Deductible: the
bill amends the tax laws to include breastfeeding equipment and services as
deductible medical care expenses. We are excited to report 30 Members of
Congress have signed onto H.R. 285.
These members include: Representatives Neil Abercrombie,
Tammy Baldwin, Rick Boucher, Michael Capuano, Julia Carson, Barney Frank,
Charles Gonzalez, Luis Gutierrez, Darlene Hooley, Jesse Jackson Jr., Sheila
Jackson-Lee, Tom Lantos, Barbara Lee, Sander Levin, Nita Lowey, Edward Markey,
Jim McDermott, James McGovern, Juanita Millender-McDonald, Jerrold Nadler, John
Olver, Donald Payne, Loretta Sanchez, Bernie Sanders, Max Sandlin, Jan
Schakowsky, Christopher Shays, Karen Thurman, Tom Udall, and Maxine Waters.
The most efficient way to keep up-to-date on the bill is
by referring to the U.S. Congress webpage - www.congress.gov.
This web page is most helpful, and includes current information such as how the
legislation is moving through committee, and what Members of the House have
cosponsored the legislation.
In the U.S. Senate, Olympia Snowe introduced S. 256, The
Pregnancy Discrimination Act Amendments of 2001. This legislation amends the
Civil Rights Act of 1964 to protect breastfeeding by new mothers.
Recent Press:
Rep. Maloney addressed the United States Breastfeeding
Committee on August 2, 2001 in Washington D.C. The committee launched a new
strategic plan -"Breastfeeding in the United States: A National
Agenda." Congresswoman Maloney welcomed the committee and guests with the
opening statement, "Today is an important day because we are celebrating
World Breastfeeding Week and the release of a extraordinary pro-woman,
pro-family report." Please refer to the website below for further
information www.usbreastfeeding.org
If you would like to be added to or deleted from this
list, or wish to offer comments, please contact: intern4.ny14@mail.house.gov.
Please be sure to include your full e-mail address in the text of the
message.
Sincerely,
Mollie Daughtrey
Staff Assistant
Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-14)
Thank you to all those who helped by providing
testimony, information, support, and prayers! The Governor signed AB
1025 late afternoon on Sunday (10-14-01).
Again, thank you all so much,
Angelica V. González
Legislative Aide
Office of Assemblymember Dario Frommer
(916) 319-2043
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OCTOBER 15, 2001
CONTACT:
Dan Reeves
(916) 319-2043
GOVERNOR SIGNS FROMMER LEGISLATION FOR
BREASTFEEDING EMPLOYEES
(SACRAMENTO, CA) - Governor Gray Davis signed
Assembly Bill 1025, by Assemblyman Dario Frommer (D-Glendale), legislation to ensure working
mothers have adequate time and an appropriate place to express breast milk
during the workday. The legislation gained bipartisan support in both
houses of the Legislature as well as support from a coalition of medical
organizations, women's groups, labor unions, and children's advocacy groups.
"Working moms will no longer have to hide
in a bathroom stall to provide
what's best for her baby, nor will she have to choose between a paycheck and
better nutrition for her baby," said Frommer. "I'm happy the
Governor
recognized this was a balanced bill that benefits the working mothers and
their babies of California."
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends
breastfeeding a child
throughout its first year. Numerous medical studies have reported that
breastfed babies tend to be healthier and less likely to become ill than
those who are primarily formula-fed. A mother who breastfeeds also has a
lower risk of certain cancers and osteoporosis.
Unfortunately, many moms have been forced to
give up breastfeeding due to
workplace constraints, such as inadequate break time or lack of a proper and
sanitary place to express breast milk. Assembly Bill 1025 is designed to
meet those needs while being sensitive to the needs of businesses at the
same time.
Assembly Bill 1025 is sponsored by the
California Council of Machinists, and is supported by the California Nurses Association, the California Medical
Association, AFSCME, the California Dietetic Association, Kaiser Permanente,
the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the March of
Dimes.
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For more information on
breastfeeding legislation, please visit:
To see a list of breastfeeding
articles, hand-outs, and facts for parents, health professionals and
public education, please see fact sheets and breastfeeding
articles.
