Breastfeeding Promotion Act

A group of Capitol Hill mothers is organizing a “nurse-in” this week to support the Breastfeeding Promotion Act, scheduled to be introduced by Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) on Thursday. The event will take place on the Cannon House Office Building Terrace at 2:00 PM.

The legislation amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to protect breastfeeding mothers from discrimination; provides tax incentives for business to establish private lactation areas; provides for a performance standard for breast pumps; and allows breastfeeding equipment to be tax deductible for families.

Breastfeeding has been proven to promote the health and well-being of infants. This is legislation that makes sense (at least to those of us with small babies at home and a wife who works 40 hours a week). It is a low-cost measure that could have a substantial impact on the long-term health of the nation.