Title: Supporting infant nutrition through improved breastfeeding practices.
Policy area: Health

Summary:
This resolution recognizes the benefits of improved breastfeeding practices and urges the President to support international efforts to improve breastfeeding practices globally.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 545 Introduced in House (IH)]

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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. Barragan, 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;
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 recommend 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
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes that there is an urgent need to promote and 
        protect the health, welfare, and development of children;
            (2) recognizes that the body of scientific evidence 
        supports the benefits of improved breastfeeding practices on 
        the short-term and long-term health and development of children 
        and their parents;
            (3) recognizes that it is in the public interest to support 
        efforts to end the inappropriate promotion of foods for infants 
        and young children as alternatives for breast milk, and support 
        the ``International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk 
        Substitutes'';
            (4) recognizes that the protection, promotion, and support 
        of breastfeeding contributes substantially to the achievement 
        of sustainable development goals on nutrition and health, and 
        is a core element of quality health care;
            (5) recognizes that improving the health, welfare, and 
        development of children and their parents worldwide supports 
        United States efforts to promote stability globally and 
        therefore contributes to our national security; and
            (6) urges the President to promote the health and welfare 
        of children and their parents by supporting international 
        efforts to improve breastfeeding practices globally.
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