Norton Bill to Require Federal Buildings to Provide Lactation Spaces to Nursing Mothers Passes Committee

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today announced that Norton's bill, the Fairness for Breastfeeding Mothers Act (H.R. 1174), to require buildings that are either federally owned or leased to provide designated private and hygienic lactation spaces for nursing mothers passed the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee by voice vote. Last Congress, Norton's bill passed the House as part of the Public Buildings Reform and Savings Act of 2016. Federal law currently requires employers to provide a designated, non-bathroom space for employees to pump breastmilk for their newborns, but Norton's bill would extend this requirement to visitors and guests to federal facilities across the nation.

"The benefits of breastfeeding are well-documented, and federal policy has long encouraged nursing," Norton said. "Considering millions of people visit federal sites across the country, and particularly here in the nation's capital, visiting nursing mothers should also have access to dedicated lactation spaces they need to safely pump breastmilk for their newborns. My bill does not require new federal funds or new or exclusive spaces to be permanently set aside only for lactation, only that space must be available as needed. I was pleased to see my bill pass the House last Congress, and I look forward to getting bipartisan support once again for this important legislation."