Title: A resolution designating the first week of August 2020 as "World Breastfeeding Week", and designating August 2020 as "National Breastfeeding Month".
Policy area: Health

Summary:
This resolution designates National Breastfeeding Month as August 2020 and World Breastfeeding Week as the first week of August. It also supports the goals of this month and week.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 683 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 683

  Designating the first week of August 2020 as ``World Breastfeeding 
    Week'', and designating August 2020 as ``National Breastfeeding 
                                Month''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            August 13, 2020

Mr. Van Hollen (for himself, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Cardin, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. 
Wyden, Mr. Booker, and Mr. Markey)) submitted the following resolution; 
          which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Designating the first week of August 2020 as ``World Breastfeeding 
    Week'', and designating August 2020 as ``National Breastfeeding 
                                Month''.

Whereas all major medical authorities recommend exclusive breastfeeding for 
        about the first 6 months of life and continued breastfeeding for not 
        less than the first year of life;
Whereas the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action has designated the first 
        week of August as ``World Breastfeeding Week'', and the United States 
        Breastfeeding Committee has designated August as ``National 
        Breastfeeding Month'';
Whereas National Breastfeeding Month focuses on how data and measurements can be 
        used to build and reinforce the connections between breastfeeding and a 
        broad spectrum of other health topics and initiatives;
Whereas World Breastfeeding Week and National Breastfeeding Month provide 
        important opportunities to address barriers to breastfeeding faced by 
        families across the United States and around the world;
Whereas breastfeeding is a proven primary prevention strategy that builds a 
        foundation for life-long health and wellness;
Whereas the evidence of the value of breastfeeding to the health of women and 
        children is scientific, solid, and continually reaffirmed by new 
        research;
Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention publishes an annual 
        Breastfeeding Report Card, which has found that, while the proportion of 
        infants who were ever breastfed in the United States is increasing, the 
        United States continues to miss targets for exclusive breastfeeding for 
        the first 6 months of life;
Whereas there are substantial racial and ethnic disparities in access to 
        breastfeeding support, resulting in reduced breastfeeding rates and an 
        associated increase in risk for a variety of negative health outcomes;
Whereas, as of the date of introduction of this resolution, the National 
        Immunization Survey reports that 86.6 percent of White infants have ever 
        been breastfed, while--

    (1) 74 percent of Black infants have ever been breastfed; and

    (2) 79.5 percent of American Indian and Alaska Native infants have ever 
been breastfed;

Whereas the Healthy People initiative of the Department of Health and Human 
        Services has consistently identified breastfeeding as a national health 
        priority;
Whereas the majority of new parents want to breastfeed but face significant 
        barriers in community, health care, and employment settings;
Whereas, while some parents may choose not to breastfeed or are unable to 
        breastfeed, all parents can benefit from access to education on infant 
        nutrition and wellness;
Whereas protecting and supporting breastfeeding for parents who are able to 
        breastfeed is essential to ensuring critical food security and 
        immunologic protection for the youngest residents of the United States; 
        and
Whereas the consistent and well-documented health, economic, and environmental 
        benefits of breastfeeding show that breastfeeding is an investment that 
        will continue to produce measurable dividends many times over across the 
        United States and for families, employers, and government entities: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates the first week of August 2020 as ``World 
        Breastfeeding Week'';
            (2) designates August 2020 as ``National Breastfeeding 
        Month'';
            (3) supports the goals of World Breastfeeding Week and 
        National Breastfeeding Month; and
            (4) supports policies and funding to ensure that all 
        parents who choose to breastfeed can access a full range of 
        appropriate support from child care and health care 
        institutions, health care insurers, employers, researchers, and 
        government entities.
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