Hooray!!
------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
From:                   "Ravnitzky, Gail" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:                HR 3531 update
Date sent:              Wed, 24 Jun 1998 17:12:13 -0400

TO:             Interested Parties
FROM:   Gail Ravnitzky,
  Senior Legislative Assistant to Rep. Carolyn Maloney
DATE:           Wednesday, June 24, 1998
RE:             HR 3531, the New Mothers' Breastfeeding Promotion and
Protection
Act


STATUS OF THE BILL
The WIC provision (which allows states greater flexibility in using WIC
funds to promote breastfeeding and purchase breastpumps) has passed the
Education and the Workforce Committee.  Hopefully the WIC bill will come
to the House floor soon.  The rest of H.R. 3531 is currently in Committee
(Education and the Workforce, Ways and Means, Government Reform and
Oversight, Commerce, House Oversight) and we are currently gathering
cosponsors.  I encourage you to help in this effort by contacting your
representatives and letting them know how you feel about the bill.


NEW YORK STATE LEGISLATION INTRODUCED
New York State Senator Catherine Abate (27th district of New York) has
introduced a bill on the state level which is very similar to H.R. 3531.
 You can find more information about this bill (S.7282) at the following
website: <www.senate.state.ny.us> Please Note:  S. 7282 has been
introduced to the NEW YORK State SENATE, (not the U.S. Senate).  The U.S.
Senate still has not had a breastfeeding bill introduced.  I'll be sure to
let you know when/if that happens.


THE NEW YORK CITY PRESS CONFERENCE HAS BEEN SCHEDULED!
  DATE:         Friday, July 10, 1998
  TIME:         11:00 a.m.
  PLACE:        tentative location is in front of City Hall
    New York, New York

1.  Rep. Maloney will be joined by New York State Senator Catherine
Abate.  In addition, a few new mothers who have faced discrimination or
harassment or bad experiences with breast pumps will tell their stories.
 We have a few possible speakers, but if you know of such a person,
please ask them to contact Gail Ravnitzky at 202-225-7944.
2.  YES, this event will be open to the public, and children of all ages
will be welcome as well.  (You do not need to RSVP)  Another e-mail will
be sent prior to this event with more details. 3.  Spread the word.  Press
inquiries only should go to Karyn Margolis in Rep. Maloney's NYC office at
212-860-0606.


COSPONSORS
We currently have 33 cosponsors.  The best way to find out who has
signed on is on the web at:  http://thomas.loc.gov/


MORE GOOD NEWS
Apparently, our efforts are making a difference, and I want to share
with you a recent note we received via e-mail:
"Just knowing that Congress is trying to pass this bill has already made
some women better off!  I just found out today from my supervisor that he
will allow me an extra 10 minutes during lunch to pump for my little one,
which has made me very happy considering they told me flat out NO a week
ago!!  But thanks to a copy of the information on your website and my
local union backing me up, I am now allowed to pump!!"

If you would like to be added to or deleted from this e-mail update
list, please contact me at: <[log in to unmask]>.   Please be
sure to include your full e-mail address in the text of the message.
THANKS!