Underwood's Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Nursing Mothers Passes the House

Statement

Today, in a bipartisan vote of 276-149, the House of Representatives passed the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections (PUMP) for Nursing Mothers Act. The bill was introduced earlier this year by Representative Lauren Underwood (D-IL) along with Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), Congressional Maternity Care Caucus co-chairs Congresswomen Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA) and Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), and Black Maternal Health Caucus co-chair Alma Adams (D-NC). The legislation will protect nearly 9 million employees excluded from the 2010 Break Time for Nursing Mothers Act and ensure that all nursing mothers have protections in the workplace.

"Every parent deserves the opportunity to choose to breastfeed, and I'm proud to sponsor legislation that would remove barriers to breastfeeding for parents as they return to workforce. As a nurse, I know the health benefits of breastfeeding are clear, and all breastfeeding employees should be provided the time and space they need to safely and privately pump at work," said Underwood. "I urge the Senate to send this bill to the President's desk urgently. It's past time to close this loophole and ensure returning to work is not a barrier to breastfeeding."

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