Lactation Spaces for Veteran Moms Act

Bill: 119-hr-1646
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14]
Introduced: 2025-02-27
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Child health

Department of Veterans Affairs

Health care coverage and access

Health facilities and institutions

Veterans' medical care

Women's health
Latest action: action_date: 2025-03-27
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Summaries:
action_date: 2025-02-27
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Lactation Spaces for Veteran Moms Act</strong></p> <p>This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure that each of its medical centers contains a hygienic lactation space that is not a bathroom and meets other specifications (e.g., must be easy to locate). </p>

tv_txt: I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1646 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 27, 2025 Ms. Underwood introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to require a lactation space in each medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Lactation Spaces for Veteran Moms Act . 2. Lactation spaces in medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs (a) In general Subchapter II of chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 1720M. Lactation spaces in medical centers of the Department (a) Lactation space required The Secretary shall ensure that each medical center of the Department contains a lactation space. (b) No unauthorized entry Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize an individual to enter a medical center of the Department or portion thereof that the individual is not otherwise authorized to enter. (c) Lactation space defined In this section, the term lactation space means a hygienic place, other than a bathroom, that— (1) is shielded from view; (2) is free from intrusion; (3) is accessible to disabled individuals (including such individuals who use wheelchairs); (4) contains a chair and a working surface; (5) is easy to locate; (6) is clearly identified with signage; and (7) is available for use by women veterans and members of the public to express breast milk. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item related to section 1720L the following new item: 1720M. Lactation spaces in medical centers of the Department. . (c) Effective date The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out section 1720M of title 38, United States Code, as added by this section, not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act.