The Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2011, introduced by Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Representative Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), would guarantee a mother's right to pump and or breastfeed at work. The legislation aims to support mothers who return to work, as well promote infant health. Sen. Merkley explains, "Making it easier for moms to breastfeed means healthier babies, lower health care costs and happier workers."
According to Sen. Merkley's website, the legislation does two things:
- Protect Breastfeeding Under Civil Rights Law. This will ensure that women cannot be fired or discriminated against in the workplace for expressing milk or breastfeeding during lunch or breaks.
- Expand the Breastfeeding Provision of the Fair Labor Standards Act to Cover Salaried Office Workers: Thanks to Merkley and Maloney’s efforts, the Affordable Care Act amended Section 7 of the Fair Labor Standards Act to provide mothers who are classified as non-exempt employees with reasonable break times to express milk in a private, non-bathroom environment while at work. The Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2011 would expand this provision to cover salaried employees who work in traditional office environments. The expansion would cover an additional approximate 13.5 million executive, administrative, and professional women in the workplace.
This summer, Washingtonians have been bombarded with bad news from Congress regarding the debt ceiling. With the introduction of the Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2011, there is finally some good news to cheer about. For more detailed information about breastfeeding legislation, visit kellymom.com's webpage, Breastfeeding: Legal Issues .
Will the Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2011 result in healthier babies and lower health care costs? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.
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