Please forgive me if this is too long.  I just thought this list was the
best
way to get this information out.  Also forgive me if it is redundant.
Theresa Chmiel, ICCE, CLC
Senior Health Educator
WIC Breastfeeding Specialist
Pensacola, FL  USA
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From: Ravnitzky, Gail [SMTP:[log in to unmask]] at EXCHDOH
Subject: update on lactation legislation
Date: 2/10/99 10:01:26 AM

To:     Interested Parties
From:     Gail Ravnitzky
     Legislative Director for Rep. Carolyn Maloney
Date:     February 10, 1999
RE:     breastfeeding/lactation legislation
     in the 106th Congress

Here is an update on how you can specifically help pass the "Breastfeeding
Promotion and Employers' Tax Incentive Act of 1999," (H.R. ____), which
will
soon be introduced in Congress.
(NOTE:  Maloney legislation on breastfeeding from the 105th Congress will
be
separated and introduced as separate measures in the 106th Congress.  The
first of these bills will be the tax provision which was included in HR
3531
last year.  Info on other breastfeeding legislation will be included in
future updates.)

HOW THE BILL WORKS:  It encourages employers to set up a safe, private, and
sanitary environment for women to express (or pump) breast milk by
providing
a tax credit for employers who set up a lactation location, purchase or
rent
lactation-related equipment, hire a lactation consultant, or otherwise
promote a lactation-friendly environment.

HOW TO HELP:  Since the bill is referred to the Ways and Means Committee,
the key to passing this bill will be showing Committee Members how it will
benefit companies (and children and moms and families) in their districts
(i.e. talk about companies that have lactation programs or are thinking
about starting programs).  The Ways and Means Committee Members are:
William
Archer (R-TX), Phil Crane (R-IL), Bill Thomas (R-TX), Clay Shaw (R-FL),
Nancy Johnson (R-CT), Amo Houghton (R-NY), Wally Herger (R-CA), Jim McCrery
(R-LA), Dave Camp (R-MI), Jim Ramstad (R-MN), Jim Nussle (R-IA), Sam
Johnson
(R-TX), Jennifer Dunn (R-WA), Mac Collins (R-GA), Rob Portman (R-OH), Phil
English (R-PA), Wes Watkins (R-OK), J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ), Jerry Weller
(R-IL), Kenny Hulshof (R-MO), Scott McInnis (R-CO), Ron Lewis (R-KY), Mark
Foley (R-FL), Charles Rangel (D-TX), Bob Matsui (D-CA), William Coyne
(D-PA), Sander Levin (D-MI), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Jim McDermott (D-WA), Jerry
Kleczka (D-WI), John Lewis (D-GA), Richard Neal (D-MA), Michael McNulty
(D-NY), Bill Jefferson (D-LA), John Tanner (D-TN), Xavier Becerra (D-CA),
Karen Thurman (D-FL), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)

NOTE:  It is NOT a good idea for everyone to contact all of these members.
Rather, concentrate on your state and area.  Also, if your representative
is
not on this committee, you should still contact him/her.  There is not yet
a
Senate sponsor for this bill.  Good luck!

WHAT ABOUT CHILD CARE?
Many of you have asked why the tax credit bill doesn't also allow companies
a tax credit when they set up child care facilities either on-site or
near-site for their employees.  Well, that bill exists, too!  The "Child
Care Infrastructure Act" was recently introduced by Reps. Carolyn Maloney
and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) in the U.S. House (H.R. 389), and Sen.
Herb Kohl (D-WI) and Sen. Orrin Hatch in the U.S. Senate (S. 63).  For more
information about this bill, visit:   www.congress.gov

IN OTHER NEWS
If you live in either Rhode Island, Florida, Iowa, or Virginia, you should
know that Sen. John Chafee (R-RI), Sen. Bob Graham (D-FL), Rep. James Leach
(R-IA), and James Moran (D-VA) have formed the Congressional Prevention
Coalition, with the mission of "increasing the priority of prevention and
health promotion in healthcare policy."  What better issue to talk to them
about than breastfeeding?  If you live in their states/Congressional
districts, I'm sure they would like to hear from you.  Perhaps they would
be
interested in cosponsoring legislation to promote breastfeeding.  (NOTE:
Rep.
Moran has already agreed to cosponsor all of the breastfeeding
legislation.)

COMPANIES
Keep the information coming about companies with lactation facilities.  If
you are sending information to me on this subject, please include ALL of
the
following info:  name of company, full address of company, phone/fax/email,
contact person, brief description of the program.

NEW JERSEY
A reporter in New Jersey is seeking mothers who have faced discrimination
at
work or been harassed for breastfeeding in public.  If this describes you
or
someone you know, please let me know by Friday, Feb. 12.

FINALLY, Congresswoman Maloney was just elected Co-Chair of the
Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues for the 106th Congress!  More
information about the Caucus will soon be available on the website:
www.house.gov/maloney

TO CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES
If you don't know who your representative is, please call 202-225-3121 to
find out.  Write to him/her at:  The Honorable ___________, U.S. House of
Representatives, Washington, DC 20515.  To contact your U.S. Senators, call
202-224-3121 or write to:  The Honorable __________, U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC 20510.


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