This week U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, introduced the bipartisan Lactation Spaces for Veteran Moms Act to ensure every medical center managed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) contains a hygienic, private space specifically designated for nursing for veterans, VA employees, and their partners. There are currently 90 VA medical centers across the country with such designated rooms, but these spaces are only for employees who are nursing, not veterans receiving care at the VA.

“All mothers deserve a private, hygienic place to nurse their children,” said Senator Rosen. “We can’t continue to allow for only half of VA medical centers to have a designated nursing room open to veterans and their partners. Mothers who are veterans have sacrificed so much for our country, the least we can do is give them privacy when they nurse by passing this bipartisan bill.” 

“We should be doing all we can to support mothers and their babies by providing greater access to nursing rooms in public places,” said Senator Murkowski. “As the number of women veterans rapidly increases, we should make certain that we have adequate support services for them. Right now, only half of VA medical centers have a nursing room, so we need to change that. I’m proud to support female veterans by ensuring our VA facilities have nursing rooms that are accessible for employees, veterans, and their partners.”

A companion bill, introduced by Congresswoman Elaine Luria (D-VA), passed in the House unanimously in May.

Related Issues: Health, Veterans

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