IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 545 

Supporting infant nutrition through improved breastfeeding practices. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

AUGUST 30, 2019 

Mr. SCHIFF (for himself, Ms. JAYAPAL, Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New 

York, Ms. NORTON, Mr. PAYNE, Ms. KAPTUR, Ms. MCCOLLUM, Mr. 

SHERMAN, Mr. COHEN, Ms. BARRAGA ́N, Mrs. DINGELL, Ms. WILD, Ms. 

TITUS, Ms. JACKSON LEE, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, and Mr. 

KHANNA) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee 

on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 

Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 

the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting infant nutrition through improved breastfeeding 

practices. 

Whereas all children have a right to safe, healthy, and beneficial nourishment; 

Whereas studies have confirmed that breastmilk is the most 

developmentally beneficial nourishment for infants, 

though alternatives, such as infant formula, have a role 

in the life of a baby, if a parent so chooses; 

Whereas some people may choose not to breastfeed or are unable to do so; however, all parents can benefit from education on infant nutrition and wellness; 


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Whereas an analysis published by The Lancet in 2016 determined that improved breastfeeding practices would annually save the lives of 820,000 children under 5 years of 

age and reduce infection-related mortality in infants 

under 3 months of age by 88 percent globally; 

Whereas breastfeeding is correlated with fewer infections, increased cognitive performance, and reduction in rates of 

obesity and diabetes in children; 

Whereas studies support a positive correlation between 

breastfeeding and reduced rates of breast cancer in people; 

Whereas there are sound economic gains associated with 

breastfeeding due to increased productivity, and analysis 

undertaken by the United Nations Children’s Fund 

(UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) 

indicates that the global cost of lower cognitive ability in 

children to be $300 billion over 10 years; 

Whereas improved breastfeeding practices are reducing health 

gaps between high- and low-income countries globally; 

Whereas the public health and economic benefits of improved 

breastfeeding practices are positive factors contributing 

to well-being, prosperity, and stability; 

Whereas people of color experience heightened barriers to 

breastfeeding—including lack of resources, less flexible 

work conditions, and racially biased health care—leading 

potentially to poorer post-natal outcomes and health disparities for communities of color; 

Whereas the American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American College of Nurse-Midwives, American Dietetic Association, and American Public Health Association, all recVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:22 Aug 30, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR545.IH HR545

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ommend that most infants in the United States be 

breastfed for at least 12 months; 

Whereas the American Academy of Pediatrics further recommends exclusive breastfeeding of infants for about the 

first 6 months of life, followed by continued breastfeeding 

as complementary foods are introduced, with continuation 

of breastfeeding for 1 year or longer; 

Whereas breast milk is a natural, renewable food that acts 

as a complete source of babies’ nutrition and does not 

necessarily require additional packaging and its use has 

a uniquely positive environmental benefit; 

Whereas, in 1990, the United States signed onto the 

‘‘Innocenti Declaration on the Protection, Promotion and 

Support of Breastfeeding’’, as adopted by the WHO and 

UNICEF, requesting all governments to nationally coordinate breastfeeding activities, ensure optimal practices 

in support of breastfeeding through maternity services, 

take action on the ‘‘International Code of Marketing of 

Breast-milk Substitutes’’, and enact legislation to protect 

breastfeeding in the workplace; 

Whereas, in 2000, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the ‘‘HHS Blueprint for Action on 

Breastfeeding’’ declaring breastfeeding to be a key public 

health issue in the United States; and 

Whereas the slogan for World Breastfeeding Week 2019 from 

August 1st to 7th is ‘‘Empower Parents, Enable 

Breastfeeding’’: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 


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1 (1) recognizes that there is an urgent need to 

2 promote and protect the health, welfare, and devel3 opment of children; 

4 (2) recognizes that the body of scientific evi5 dence supports the benefits of improved breastfeed6 ing practices on the short-term and long-term health 

7 and development of children and their parents; 

8 (3) recognizes that it is in the public interest to 

9 support efforts to end the inappropriate promotion 

10 of foods for infants and young children as alter11 natives for breast milk, and support the ‘‘Inter12 national Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Sub13 stitutes’’; 

14 (4) recognizes that the protection, promotion, 

15 and support of breastfeeding contributes substan16 tially to the achievement of sustainable development 

17 goals on nutrition and health, and is a core element 

18 of quality health care; 

19 (5) recognizes that improving the health, wel20 fare, and development of children and their parents 

21 worldwide supports United States efforts to promote 

22 stability globally and therefore contributes to our na23 tional security; and 

24 (6) urges the President to promote the health 

25 and welfare of children and their parents by supVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:22 Aug 30, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR545.IH HR545

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1 porting international efforts to improve breastfeed2 ing practices globally. 

Æ 


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