Title: Expressing support for the designation of the week of August 25 through August 31, 2021, as "Black Breastfeeding Week" to bring national attention to the United States maternal child health crisis in the Black community and the important role that breastfeeding plays in improving maternal and infant health outcomes.
Policy area: Health

Summary:
This resolution recognizes the negative effects of systemic and institutional racism on the ability of Black women to meet breastfeeding guidelines. It also recognizes that the barriers created by racism contribute to health disparities and identifies policies to mitigate these barriers.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 603 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 603

Expressing support for the designation of the week of August 25 through 
  August 31, 2021, as ``Black Breastfeeding Week'' to bring national 
  attention to the United States maternal child health crisis in the 
  Black community and the important role that breastfeeding plays in 
             improving maternal and infant health outcomes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            August 24, 2021

Ms. Adams submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                    Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing support for the designation of the week of August 25 through 
  August 31, 2021, as ``Black Breastfeeding Week'' to bring national 
  attention to the United States maternal child health crisis in the 
  Black community and the important role that breastfeeding plays in 
             improving maternal and infant health outcomes.

Whereas according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2019 
        statistics, Black mothers ``breastfeeding initiation rate was nearly 74 
        percent compared to White mothers'' rate of 86 percent;
Whereas breastfeeding directly impacts the health and wellness of infants and 
        the mothers who care for them;
Whereas Black mothers have reported greater barriers to breastfeeding compared 
        to their counterparts, including pain or discomfort while breastfeeding, 
        concerns about breastfeeding in public, insufficient availability of 
        promotional and educational efforts, and the interference of 
        breastfeeding with paid employment and other activities;
Whereas some Black mothers have also reported lack of a social support system 
        for continued breastfeeding;
Whereas in North Carolina, only 70 percent of Black mothers attempted to 
        breastfeed in 2019, versus 84 percent of White mothers and State average 
        of 81 percent of all birthing parents in the State who breastfed during 
        the same period;
Whereas Black babies suffer over a two times higher infant mortality rates than 
        White babies in North Carolina;
Whereas low breastfeeding initiation rates directly correlate to high infant 
        mortality rates;
Whereas babies who are breastfed for at least three months have a 38-percent 
        reduced risk of infant mortality annually across the United States;
Whereas Black children are at a greater risk for childhood disease, and the 
        inability to exclusively breastfeed for the recommended six months has 
        been attributed to twice as many deaths and three times as many 
        childhood diseases in Black infants as compared to White infants;
Whereas one in four mothers in the United States return to work within ten days 
        of giving birth;
Whereas 60 percent of working mothers in the United States who are breastfeeding 
        express breast milk in inadequate and unsanitary places on the job;
Whereas COVID-19 has tragically exposed the unfortunate impact of racial 
        inequities in health for Black communities;
Whereas these inequities have led to Black communities being disproportionately 
        impacted by the virus, including forced separations of mothers and 
        infants after birth when breast milk is the safest and most reliable 
        form of infant feeding during an emergency or pandemic;
Whereas understanding such historical and contemporary racial inequities is 
        important to address systemic injustices preventing families from 
        achieving their breastfeeding potential;
Whereas if mothers could meet current medical recommendations for breastfeeding, 
        it would save the United States economy nearly $13 billion per year in 
        pediatric health costs and premature deaths;
Whereas Black Breastfeeding Week is an opportunity to raise awareness about the 
        maternal child health crisis in Black communities and the important role 
        that breastfeeding plays in improving maternal and infant health 
        outcomes;
Whereas this week is dedicated to increasing awareness of the critical role of 
        breastfeeding and the work of Black community-led groups in improving 
        family health and reducing infant mortality rates in Black communities; 
        and
Whereas a week highlighting a unique and targeted approach to address the 
        challenges facing Black mothers and families is critical to eliminating 
        racial disparities in breastfeeding and breast cancer survival: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives recognizes--
            (1) that systemic and institutional racism creates greater 
        barriers for Black women committed to meeting breastfeeding 
        guidelines set out by Federal public health officials;
            (2) that these barriers contribute to increasing health 
        disparities leaving Black mothers and infants particularly 
        vulnerable;
            (3) that disproportionate rates of maternal mortality and 
        morbidity in the United States and the alarmingly high rates of 
        maternal mortality among Black women are unacceptable;
            (4) that Congress must fully support and encourage policies 
        that ensure Black parents have access to affordable health 
        care, allow parents to take paid leave after the birth of a 
        child, and ensure that breastfeeding mothers have appropriate 
        places to express breast milk; and
            (5) that, in order to better mitigate the effects of 
        systemic and structural racism, Congress must work toward 
        ensuring that Black communities have--
                    (A) adequate housing;
                    (B) transportation equity;
                    (C) nutritious food;
                    (D) clean water;
                    (E) environments free from toxins;
                    (F) fair treatment within the criminal justice 
                system;
                    (G) safety and freedom from violence;
                    (H) a living wage;
                    (I) equal economic opportunity; and
                    (J) comprehensive, quality, and affordable health 
                care.
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