National, State & Local Advocacy

National, State & Local Advocacy

National Advocacy

United States Breastfeeding Committee

The mission of United States Breastfeeding Committee is to improve the Nation's health by working collaboratively

to protect, promote and support breastfeeding.

Starting in 1995, a small group of breastfeeding advocates met to discuss the need for coordination of breastfeeding activities in the U.S. After conducting an intensive needs assessment, the National Alliance for Breastfeeding Advocacy (NABA) was formed to address needs not being met by organizations, government agencies or individuals. NABA convened the first National Breastfeeding Leadership Roundtable (NBLR) in January 1996 to determine if another organization was needed to move breastfeeding forward in this country. Working on the international model, the formation of this committee, if successful, would satisfy one of the four operational targets set forth by the 1990 Innocenti Declaration. This was to establish a multi-sectoral national breastfeeding committee composed of representatives from relevant government departments, non-governmental organizations, and health professional associations in every country.

It was agreed at that meeting of nineteen breastfeeding leaders to do four things. First, to support ongoing breastfeeding projects in the U.S. Second, to develop a strategic plan for breastfeeding in the U.S. Third, to formalize NBLR into the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee (USBC). And finally, to establish the organization of the USBC and its leadership, the NBLR continued to meet twice a year and in January 1998 voted to declare itself, with the encouragement of Assistant Surgeon General Dr. Audrey Nora, the United States Breastfeeding Committee.

The USBC is a collaborative partnership of organizations. The mission of the committee is to protect, promote and support breastfeeding in the U.S. The USBC exists to assure the rightful place of breastfeeding in society.

Floirda attendees to the 2006 United States Breastfeeding Committee Conference from Florida were: Kelly Bonyata, Dianne Veatch, Marsha Pearlman.

Florida attendees at the 2008 USBC Conference from Florida were: Mary Becker, Pat Lindsey, Joan Meek

National Legislation needs more support YOU CAN HELP

“Breastfeeding Promotion Act” (H.R. 2236) Open PDF of the Bill More info at http://maloney.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1337&Itemid=61

The Breastfeeding Promotion Act:

• amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to protect breastfeeding women from being fired or discriminated against in the workplace

• provides tax incentives for businesses that establish private, lactation areas in the workplace

• provides for a performance standard for breast pumps

• allows breastfeeding equipment to be tax deductible for families

Sponsor: Rep Maloney, Carolyn B. [NY-14] (introduced 5/5/2005) Cosponsors (28) Latest Major Action: 5/31/2005 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations.

Florida only has one legislative supporter of this important bill, go to this link to see a list of cosponsors http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:HR02122:@@@P

Orly Isaacson, a nursing working mother and a staffer for NY Rep Carolyn Maloney, urged attendees at the 2008 USBC National Conference to contact their local legislators urging them to support this bill. About 200 legislative cosponsors are needed to help give this bill some life and more likelihood of being passed. We need to urge every voting age supporter of breastfeeding (moms, dads, grandparents) to contact their local legislators. An organization called Momsrising.com has a form letter on their website that filed out will be delivered to your local legislators to make this easier for everyone. ** Click here to contact your congress person. **

You are encouraged to edit the form letter to better represent your role in supporting breastfeeding mothers as well as emphasize the importance to the health of babies (saving babies lives, cutting healthcare cost). We can make a difference!

National Ban the Bags Campaign


The hospitals in Florida who have banned the bags are as follows: Cape Canaveral Hospital, Cocoa Beach, Florida Martin Memorial Medical Center, Stuart, Florida Morton Plant Hospital, Clearwater, Florida Naval Hospital Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Florida North Florida Regional Medical Center, Gainesville, Florida