Mr. Glickman of USDA is a very important person to have on the side of
breastfeeding.  His agency oversees Food and Nutrition Programs throughout the
US.  A very vocal program in Breastfeeding Promotion is the WIC Program, which
is funded thru USDA. Support of the WIC Program to your Senators and
Representatives is very important when considering the continuation of the WIC
effots at breastfeeding promotion.  Whenever WIC is threatened by cutbacks,
the Nutrition Education (Breastfeeding falls under this area) portion of the
program is always looked at first.  The food distribution portion of the
program is generally left as it is because the public views  cuts in this area
as taking food out of the mouths of children.  Every projection of program
emphasis that comes across my desk increases the breastfeeding promotional
efforts.  We are beginning to see real progress in our population.  WIC is by
far one of the most far reaching programs in our country to take on the job of
spreading the breastfeeding message.  Like any other program or effort this
works better in some places than others.  However I have seen the message
spread and grow.  The message doesn't only go out to our WIC population, it
also goes out to the Public Health officials of each state, the Governor's of
the states, the legislature's of the states, and  Federal level officials,
like Mr. Glickman.  These people have the place in our government to make
policy decisions that are important to breastfeeding.