Supporting infant nutrition through improved breastfeeding practices.

IV 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. RES. 545 Supporting infant nutrition through improved breastfeeding practices. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AUGUST 30, 2019 Mr. SCHIFF (for himself, Ms. JAYAPAL, Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York, Ms. NORTON, Mr. PAYNE, Ms. KAPTUR, Ms. MCCOLLUM, Mr. SHERMAN, Mr. COHEN, Ms. BARRAGA´N, Mrs. DINGELL, Ms. WILD, Ms. TITUS, Ms. JACKSON LEE, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, and Mr. KHANNA) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned RESOLUTION Supporting infant nutrition through improved breastfeeding practices. Whereas all children have a right to safe, healthy, and bene- ficial nourishment; Whereas studies have confirmed that breastmilk is the most developmentally beneficial nourishment for infants, though alternatives, such as infant formula, have a role in the life of a baby, if a parent so chooses; Whereas some people may choose not to breastfeed or are un- able to do so; however, all parents can benefit from edu- cation on infant nutrition and wellness; VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:22 Aug 30, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR545.IH HR545 jbell on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS 2 •HRES 545 IH Whereas an analysis published by The Lancet in 2016 deter- mined that improved breastfeeding practices would annu- ally save the lives of 820,000 children under 5 years of age and reduce infection-related mortality in infants under 3 months of age by 88 percent globally; Whereas breastfeeding is correlated with fewer infections, in- creased cognitive performance, and reduction in rates of obesity and diabetes in children; Whereas studies support a positive correlation between breastfeeding and reduced rates of breast cancer in peo- ple; Whereas there are sound economic gains associated with breastfeeding due to increased productivity, and analysis undertaken by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that the global cost of lower cognitive ability in children to be $300 billion over 10 years; Whereas improved breastfeeding practices are reducing health gaps between high- and low-income countries globally; Whereas the public health and economic benefits of improved breastfeeding practices are positive factors contributing to well-being, prosperity, and stability; Whereas people of color experience heightened barriers to breastfeeding—including lack of resources, less flexible work conditions, and racially biased health care—leading potentially to poorer post-natal outcomes and health dis- parities for communities of color; Whereas the American Academy of Family Physicians, Amer- ican College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Amer- ican College of Nurse-Midwives, American Dietetic Asso- ciation, and American Public Health Association, all rec- VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:22 Aug 30, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR545.IH HR545 jbell on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS 3 •HRES 545 IH ommend that most infants in the United States be breastfed for at least 12 months; Whereas the American Academy of Pediatrics further rec- ommends exclusive breastfeeding of infants for about the first 6 months of life, followed by continued breastfeeding as complementary foods are introduced, with continuation of breastfeeding for 1 year or longer; Whereas breast milk is a natural, renewable food that acts as a complete source of babies’ nutrition and does not necessarily require additional packaging and its use has a uniquely positive environmental benefit; Whereas, in 1990, the United States signed onto the ‘‘Innocenti Declaration on the Protection, Promotion and Support of Breastfeeding’’, as adopted by the WHO and UNICEF, requesting all governments to nationally co- ordinate breastfeeding activities, ensure optimal practices in support of breastfeeding through maternity services, take action on the ‘‘International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes’’, and enact legislation to protect breastfeeding in the workplace; Whereas, in 2000, the Secretary of Health and Human Serv- ices (HHS) released the ‘‘HHS Blueprint for Action on Breastfeeding’’ declaring breastfeeding to be a key public health issue in the United States; and Whereas the slogan for World Breastfeeding Week 2019 from August 1st to 7th is ‘‘Empower Parents, Enable Breastfeeding’’: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 1 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:22 Aug 30, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR545.IH HR545 jbell on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS 4 •HRES 545 IH (1) recognizes that there is an urgent need to 1 promote and protect the health, welfare, and devel- 2 opment of children; 3 (2) recognizes that the body of scientific evi- 4 dence supports the benefits of improved breastfeed- 5 ing practices on the short-term and long-term health 6 and development of children and their parents; 7 (3) recognizes that it is in the public interest to 8 support efforts to end the inappropriate promotion 9 of foods for infants and young children as alter- 10 natives for breast milk, and support the ‘‘Inter- 11 national Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Sub- 12 stitutes’’; 13 (4) recognizes that the protection, promotion, 14 and support of breastfeeding contributes substan- 15 tially to the achievement of sustainable development 16 goals on nutrition and health, and is a core element 17 of quality health care; 18 (5) recognizes that improving the health, wel- 19 fare, and development of children and their parents 20 worldwide supports United States efforts to promote 21 stability globally and therefore contributes to our na- 22 tional security; and 23 (6) urges the President to promote the health 24 and welfare of children and their parents by sup- 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:22 Aug 30, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR545.IH HR545 jbell on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS 5 •HRES 545 IH porting international efforts to improve breastfeed- 1 ing practices globally. 2 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:22 Aug 30, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR545.IH HR545 jbell on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS