Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (of New York!), along with Senator Jeff Merkley (Oregon) just introduced a bill called the Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2011.
The bill would help breastfeeding moms two ways:
- It would protect breastfeeding under civil rights law, so women who breastfeed or pump during the workday can’t be fired or discriminated against.
- It would expand the breastfeeding provision of the Fair Labor Standards Act, so salaried office workers could have reasonable breaks to breastfeed or pump in a private, non-bathroom area at work.
We’re very much in favor of Congresswoman Maloney and Senator Merkley’s efforts. We don’t know why breastfeeding moms didn’t have these protections before!
