On September 28, 2022, The Biden-Harris Administration hosted a White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health and released the National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. It was great to see breastfeeding and human milk feeding included in the strategy, but it’s imperative that we invest in infant feeding and breastfeeding to support the strategies outlined in the plan.
In 2012, Congress allocated funds to the CDC Hospitals Promoting Breastfeeding program for the first time. These funds are used to support a wide range of public health efforts including improving maternity care practices, increasing access to peer and professional support, ensuring continuity of breastfeeding care, increasing support for breastfeeding employees, and addressing disparities. However, since 2012, this investment in breastfeeding and human milk feeding has only increased by $2.75 million.
Now is the time to ask the White House to make an intentional commitment to promoting breastfeeding-friendly environments. Each fiscal year, the federal budget process begins with the President’s Budget. As the United States continues to face the infant formula shortage and the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s more important than ever to build a protective infrastructure for nutrition security of all infants across the country. We need to prioritize and support infant nutrition, including access to lactation support, supplies, and accommodations. Join the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee in asking the Biden-Harris Administration to invest $20 million in the CDC Hospitals Promoting Breastfeeding program line item for the FY 2024 President’s Budget request!
Let the White House know that it’s past time to invest in infant feeding and breastfeeding!