Senators Propose New Protections for Breastfeeding Workers

Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley and Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski want to expand the right to pump on the job to millions more workers. Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) introduced a bill that would extend the right to pump breastmilk on the job to salaried workers who are excluded under current law. If the proposal passed, employers would be required to provide a clean space and break time to nearly any worker who was pumping following the birth of a child. Merkley said it was a commonsense plan that would fill large gaps in a landmark bipartisan law he championed and passed with Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) nearly a decade ago. At Hazelbaker Lactation Institute we concur on the importance of this proposed legislation because every baby deserves its mother’s milk and every mother deserves to maintain her milk supply and every breastfeeding dyad has a right to preserve their breastfeeding relationship. Senators propose new protection for breastfeeding workers.