Latest Lactation Law Bill Requires Lactation Rooms in all Federal Buildings
On Friday 26th July 2019, President Donald Trump signed the Fairness for Breastfeeding Mothers Act. The Fairness for Breastfeeding Mothers Act is a bipartisan piece of legislation that requires all federal buildings that are open to the public and contain a bathroom, now must have a designated lactation room.
This designated lactation room must be a room other than a bathroom, that is hygienic, must be shielded from view and free from intrusion, and contain a chair, a work surface and electrical outlet.
This legislation comes after the FLSA, Fair Labour Standards Act which requires that all employers in organisations with over 50 employees provide a lactation space other than a bathroom for all non-exempt employees. And the Friendly Airports for Mothers (FAM) Act, as part of the FFA reauthorization act, which requires all large and medium airports to provide “lactation areas” beyond security in every terminal.
The introduction of more and more legislation is fantastic for increasing awareness, and bit by bit making waves to provide the breastfeeding and breast pumping moms the rights to the spaces they deserve.
However there is still a vast amount of confusion surrounding these issues, and the introduction of this legislation has seen much the same commentary that others have. Comments like “why can’t moms just use the bathroom?”, or “why do moms need private space if breastfeeding in public is legal?”, highlights the still misinformation and lack of general public awareness.
Mothers have the right to have spaces where they feel comfortable, just because something is legal does not mean everyone is comfortable to do get their pump out in public.
There is still a long way to go for public acceptance and awareness for breastfeeding and breast pumping, but legislation is paving the way for a bright future for moms!
