Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Enhancement Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. HERNANDEZ. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of S. 260, the Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Enhancement Act.

This is a straightforward bill that directs the Transportation Security Administration to update or issue guidance to adhere to hygienic standards to reduce the risk of contamination of breast milk, baby formula, juice, and purified water during TSA screening.

The bill would also require TSA to consult with nationally recognized maternal health organizations to help develop guidelines and establish hygienic screening standards for these items.

Traveling with kids is a difficult, stressful experience for many parents and caretakers, one that I expect to undertake beginning in January.

For many new moms, in particular, TSA screening has proven a particularly challenging experience as well-meaning officers enforce inconsistent and opaque screening requirements.

Far too many parents have been left wondering if their breast milk or formula is still safe to give to an infant after TSA has handled and screened it.

This bill would help enforce hygienic practices and make screening less stressful for new parents while maintaining security standards.

Madam Speaker, I thank Senator Duckworth for her leadership on this topic, as well as my colleague Congressman Swalwell, who sponsored the House companion to this bill.

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Mr. HERNANDEZ. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Swalwell), the author of the House version of this bill.

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Mr. HERNANDEZ. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

This is a commonsense bill that will help make traveling a little bit easier for millions of parents.

On behalf of myself and my wife, a future mother, I thank all the Members who are part of this effort, especially Congressman Swalwell.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and I yield back the balance of my time.

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