I used your letter and tweaked it somewhat (hope you don't mind). My rep is a Republican, so I stole your line and switched the party, lol. The last time I contacted her, about supporting legislation for midwives and freestanding birth centers to continue to be funded by Medicaid, she did contact me back with interest, so I think I have an audience with her.
"As a mother and grandmother, I know you will be sympathetic with my cause. What matter could be more pressing than a mother's right to get proper nutrition to her child? No, I am not talking about malnourished children in Africa, I am talking about babies right here in your country, in your state, in your district. Of course I know you will be prompt in your action because I know you are devoted to women's issues as the former Republican Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues.
I am writing to you to draw your attention to the Breastfeeding Promotion Act, sponsored by Congresswoman Maloney of New York and to urge you to support it. Breastfeeding mothers have been working with Rep. Carolyn Maloney's office to get out a large activist presence for her Reintroduction of the Breastfeeding Promotion Act bill on June 3rd at 11:30am on Cannon Terrace. I am asking you to sign on as an original cosponsor of the bill and would love to see you attend and speak at the press conference.
The Breastfeeding Promotion Act will do four basic things to help working women across the nation. It will:
* Add workplace protections for breastfeeding mothers as a protected class under the Civil Rights Act of 1964
* Provide incentives for employers to have private lactation areas for workers
* Create a performance standard for breastpump equipment
* Create tax deductions for pumping equipment
There is no downside to helping new mothers return to the workplace and do the healthiest thing they can for themselves and their babies. It gives the Republican Party the true claim to be the party of "family values." It fits perfectly with Health Care Reform because of the immediate benefits and reduction of health care costs for the care of infants as well as the long term health benefits to mothers. Recently studies showed that mothers who breastfeed (or provide pumped breastmilk) for two years or longer reduce their premenopausal breast cancer risks 40%. Right now the duration of breastfeeding drops dramatically after 3 months. I believe it is no coincidence that this is right when women who access the Family Medical Leave Act must then return to often hostile work climates where pumping is frowned upon or outright forbidden.
My sister-in-law was unable to provide the best nutrition for her son. Although she hoped to breastfeed for one year, as per the American Academy of Pediatrics, while working she was not able to keep up pumping and her milk dried up. This was extremely disappointing to her, to say the least, and it is quite a common experience among mothers. I hear it all the time from friends and acquaintances. Women are just not given the accommodation they need to continue pumping in the workplace.
By creating workplace protections all workers will become more open and understanding of the needs of new mothers, leading to a greater national support for breastfeeding in general. Just as sexual harassment law led to greater understanding of women's rights in the workplace and intolerance for harassment, this bill will lead to a day when my four daughters' and my son's future wife's daughter's employers won't question their need to provide both high productivity at work AND the best infant nutrition they can to their babies.
I understand that this issue requires working "across the aisle," but as uncontroversial and important an issue it is, I know that will not be an issue for you. Our new first lady speaks weekly about the need for family friendly work policies and the need for work/life balance. The nation is tuned in and ready for a bill like this.
I hope to hear from you that you will add your name to this bill dedicated to supporting the 70% of mothers in the nation who are also part of the workforce."
I am glad that didn't really happen.
