Merkley, Duckworth Lead Senate Resolution Marking World Breastfeeding Week, National Breastfeeding Month

Press Release

Oregon's Senator Jeff Merkley and Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) announced today that they are leading a Senate resolution marking the first week of August as "World Breastfeeding Week" and the month of August as "National Breastfeeding Month."

Joining Merkley and Duckworth on the resolution are Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Tom Carper (D-DE), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Angus King (I-ME), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Mazie Hirono (D-HI).

In addition to honoring World Breastfeeding Week and National Breastfeeding Month, the resolution calls for "support[ing] policies and funding to ensure that all mothers 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."

"Every new mother who wants to breastfeed should have the support and resources necessary to make it possible," said Merkley. "By continuing to raise public awareness and support for breastfeeding, we can help overcome the stigma and barriers that still stand in the way."

"Breastfeeding plays a critical role in children's development and helps reduce the risk of life-threatening diseases for children and mothers alike," said Duckworth. "I'm proud to join Senator Merkley in introducing this resolution to help raise awareness about its life-long health benefits."

The Merkley-Duckworth resolution is supported by a wide range of advocacy groups, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, First Focus Campaign for Children, MomsRising, National WIC Association, and the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee.

"Breastfeeding is one of the most highly effective preventive measures a mother can take to protect the health of her infant and herself," said American Academy of Pediatrics President Colleen Kraft, MD, MBA, FAAP. "It provides protection against newborn, infant and child infections, allergies, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease and sudden infant death syndrome. The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly recommends breastfeeding as the preferred feeding method for all infants, and applauds the resolution designating August as National Breastfeeding Month and the first week of the month as World Breastfeeding Week. As pediatricians, we commend these critical efforts to support and promote breastfeeding both in our country and around the world."

"Breastfeeding is the optimal choice for infants. It has extensive health benefits for mom and baby and it's cost-effective," said Bruce Lesley, President, First Focus Campaign for Children. "Unfortunately, many moms across the US and around the world want to breastfeed, but don't have the support they need. World Breastfeeding Week and National Breastfeeding Month will be a great opportunity to advocate for policies and programs that help women, especially low-income women of color, breastfeed their babies so they get the best possible nourishment."

"We need to do all we can to promote and support breastfeeding, which improves the health of both babies and mothers," said MomsRising executive director and CEO Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner. "Right now, too many barriers make it difficult or impossible for moms to breastfeed their children for the recommended six months and these barriers contribute to health disparities and put children of color and their moms at particular risk. Raising awareness about the benefits of breastfeeding and making it possible for more moms to do so is essential to improving our public health and our economy. MomsRising, the online and on-the-ground organization of more than one million mothers and their families, commends Senators Jeff Merkley and Tammy Duckworth for their resolution naming August National Breastfeeding Month and designating this week as World Breastfeeding Week."

"The National WIC Association is grateful to Senator Merkley for his leadership in support of breastfeeding, particularly at a moment when some have chosen to politicize breastfeeding," said Rev. Douglas Greenaway, President and CEO of the National WIC Association. "Breastfeeding is the optimal form of infant nutrition, but many families face barriers to breastfeeding success. Strong leaders like Senator Merkley reinforce a culture supportive of breastfeeding as the norm. We urge all members of the Senate to join Senator Merkley in cosponsoring this resolution. Supporting breastfeeding is not a political decision. It's the right thing to do."

"While 4 out of 5 families start breastfeeding after birth, there is a steep drop in breastfeeding rates in the following weeks and months," said Amelia Psmythe, Interim Executive Director of the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee. "Many families face immense barriers in the places where they live, learn, work, play, and worship that keep them from reaching their own breastfeeding goals, especially in communities of color. But the solutions to eliminating many of these barriers are known and absolutely attainable. This resolution would demonstrate a commitment from policymakers to do better for our Nation's families. Supporting breastfeeding is a public health imperative -- it is a critical step toward achieving health equity, reducing health care costs, improving health disparities, and supporting families across the life course."

The full text of the resolution is available here and below.

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