III 

109TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 403 

Recognizing the benefits of breastfeeding, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 16 (legislative day, MARCH 15), 2006 

Mr. DURBIN submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the benefits of breastfeeding, and for other 

purposes. 

Whereas the Surgeon General and the American Academy of 

Pediatrics recommend that most babies be exclusively fed 

with breast milk for the first 6 months of life, and continue on with breast milk through the first year of life; 

Whereas studies have shown that children who were breastfed 

had a 20 percent lower risk of dying in the first year of 

life than children who were not breastfed; 

Whereas promoting breastfeeding can potentially prevent up 

to 720 postneonatal deaths in the United States each 

year; 

Whereas breast milk provides the right balance of nutrients 

to help an infant grow into a strong and healthy toddler, 


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•SRES 403 IS

improves the chances of infant survival, and helps protect 

against common childhood illnesses and infections; 

Whereas research also suggests that breastfeeding may be 

protective against chronic diseases such as type I and 

type II diabetes, leukemia, and obesity; 

Whereas breast milk contains important amino acids, only 

found in natural breast milk, that help an infant’s brain 

develop; 

Whereas maternal benefits to breastfeeding include decreased 

postpartum bleeding, decreased risk of breast and ovarian 

cancer, and decreased risk of postmenopausal 

osteoporosis; 

Whereas the health advantages for mothers and children of 

breastfeeding translate into economic benefits for the 

family, health care system, and workplace; 

Whereas breastfeeding more children would reduce medical 

care costs, decrease spending for public health programs 

such as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for 

Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and decrease parental absenteeism; 

Whereas breastfeeding more children would have an environmental benefit by reducing trash and plastic waste from 

formula cans and bottle supplies; 

Whereas 1 of the objectives for improving health in Focus 

Area 16, Maternal, Infant, and Child Health, from 

Healthy People 2010, is to increase the percentage of 

mothers who breastfeed to 75 percent in the postpartum 

period, 50 percent 6 months after birth, and 25 percent 

1 year after birth; and 

Whereas throughout the United States, mothers have encountered legal and systematic challenges while trying to 


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breastfeed in public and upon returning to work when 

seeking out adequate places to express milk in the workplace: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes the unique health, economic, and 

3 social benefits breastfeeding affords to children, 

4 mothers, and the community at large; and 

5 (2) calls upon States to take steps to protect a 

6 mother’s right to breastfeed and remove the barriers 

7 faced by women who breastfeed. 

Æ 


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