Breastfeeding Petition to President Obama

Sign on below to ask President Barack Obama to make breastfeeding a high priority in his administration. This Web tool will allow USBC to compile signatures from supporters all across the United States to submit to the new administration.

Dear President Obama:

There is virtually universal agreement among health care experts that, with rare exceptions, breastfeeding is the optimal method of feeding all infants, sick as well as healthy, preterm as well as full term. In addition to the myriad health benefits provided to mother and infant, breastfeeding provides significant economic and environmental benefits for families, employers, and society by reducing health care expenses, eliminating the need to purchase expensive formula, and reducing absenteeism from work to care for sick infants. Excess health care costs totaling more than $4 billion must be paid by the U.S. health care system each year to treat otitis media, gastroenteritis, and necrotizing enterocolitis--childhood diseases and conditions preventable or reduced by breastfeeding. When prevention of obesity, diabetes, and other chronic conditions is factored in, the potential economic benefits of breastfeeding are significantly greater.

Given all of these benefits, the United States Breastfeeding Committee joins the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in recommending that infants be exclusively breastfed for six months, and continue to breastfeed for the first year of life and as long afterward as mutually desired by the mother and infant. Yet only a handful of states are currently meeting the federal government’s own Healthy People 2010 breastfeeding targets. Additionally, significant disparities in breastfeeding continue to exist, with non-Hispanic black and socioeconomically disadvantaged groups experiencing lower breastfeeding rates.

Obviously, more needs to be done to ensure the achievement of our national breastfeeding goals and to create an environment where women and their families can be successful in achieving their personal breastfeeding goals. You have the power to take immediate and concrete action to improve the Nation’s health by protecting, promoting, and supporting breastfeeding. We urge you to use your position of leadership and power to set the tone in the federal government to place a high priority on breastfeeding as an essential public health issue.

Please take the following actions to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding, the foundation of lifelong health: 1. Instruct the Surgeon General to issue a statement in support of breastfeeding urging all sectors (governmental and non-governmental) involved in supporting women, children, and families to improve their breastfeeding policies. 2. Enact a national paid family leave policy. 3. Endorse the World Health Organization’s International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes as well as the Global Strategy for Infant & Young Child Feeding. 4. Ask the Federal Trade Commission to monitor infant formula marketing. 5. Ask the Food and Drug Administration to include labeling on powdered infant formula warning that it is not sterile and providing instructions on how to properly reconstitute it. 6. Highlight the benefits for employers of workplace breastfeeding support programs as part of your program to promote flexible work arrangements. 7. Urge all insurers to cover lactation care and support services. 8. Approve an increase in breastfeeding support funds for the USDA’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), especially to support the peer counseling program. 9. Instruct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to recommend that all hospitals achieve the Baby-Friendly designation. 10. Ensure that emergency management agencies are trained in breastfeeding support and have breastfeeding supply kits available for distribution in emergencies.

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Copyright © 2008 United States Breastfeeding Committee. All Rights Reserved.
2025 M Street, NW, Suite 800 · Washington, DC 20036-3309
202/367-1132 · 202/367-2132 (fax)
office@usbreastfeeding.org

0-25 of 13185 signatures

Number	Date	Name	Location	Add a personal comment to your signature (optional).
13185	February 09, 2010	Ashlie Willis	Brookline, MA
13184	February 08, 2010	Corrie Osgood	Howell, MI
13183	February 07, 2010	Jennifer Keegan	Westborough, MA	PLEASE!
13182	February 06, 2010	Amanda Daey	El Cajon, CA
13181	February 06, 2010	lori labonte	fort wainwright, AK
13180	February 05, 2010	Evaliz Caraballo	Juncos, PR	Por favor, aprueben la petición. Con la ayuda del presidente podemos lograr mucho para las madres lactantes. Necesitamos su apoyo. Gracias!
13179	February 04, 2010	Amy Warren	Woburn, MA	Please also prioritize 1. Banked milk for adopted babies and 2. Insurance reimbursement for lactation consultants.
13178	February 04, 2010	Rebeca Four	West New York, NJ	Breastfeeding PROTECTION (emphatic not shouting) and support are the key to any significant health care reform. The current valiant aim of the administration is really a care access reform not a health care reform, which would be based on prevention. Breastfeeding is the key to prevention. The African American community, which is perhaps the most vulnerable (highest infant mortality and morbidity rates, daibetes, heart disease, etc), is the least protected and supported when it comes to the most significant health measure: breastfeeding. PLEASE stand up for humanity and PROTECT breastfeeding. Look to the WHO for evidence based accurate information on breastfeeding and health realted causations and adequate measures of protection and support. STOP the formula companies. They are absolutely responsible for the rampant diseases plaguing our communities. PROTECT, PROMOTE AND SUPPORT HUMANITY by advocating for and protecting the inalienable rights of every baby to breastfeed.
13177	February 03, 2010	Shannon Rocci	Malden, MA	1. Banked milk for adopted babies 2. Insurance reimbursement for lactation consultants
13176	February 03, 2010	Pat Lindsey	Oviedo, FL	Promotion of breastfeeding is the most profound lowest costing healthcare benefit to mothers and babies. It also enriches bonding adding to family values. Please support policy that removes the barriers of a mother's choice to breastfeed her baby. Lack of paid maternity leave and lack of flexible break time in workplace to pump to provide breastmilk for babies is a huge barrier to mothers in the workplace being able to breastfeed their baby for the 1 year minimal time recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Thank you, Pat Lindsey, IBCLC, RLC
13175	February 03, 2010	Renee Centore-Kelly	Enfield, CT
13174	February 03, 2010	Jeanne McMahon	Belleville, NJ	Please help women's health advocates and care providers make breastfeeding a priority and reality for all women. Breastfeeding ensures good health of children and women.
13173	February 03, 2010	Berenice Zavala	Sarasota, FL
13172	February 03, 2010	Jennifer McCullough	Sutton, MA
13171	February 03, 2010	AUDREY MEEK	CLARKSVILLE, TN
13170	February 03, 2010	Jennifer Anders Katz	Brighton, MA
13169	February 03, 2010	Pamela Gaw	clinton, MA	thanks
13168	February 03, 2010	Joy Smith	Danvers, MA
13167	February 02, 2010	Augusta Papp	Arlington, MA
13166	February 02, 2010	jody segrave-daly	camp hill, PA
13165	February 02, 2010	Catherine Johannessen	Roslindale, MA
13164	February 02, 2010	Gina Cicatelli Ciagne	Alexandria, VA
13163	February 02, 2010	Meredith Leclair	Fitchburg, MA	I would like our country to adopt a paid parenting leave of at least 6 months to support breastfeeding infants.
13162	February 02, 2010	Ellen Bordman	Bridgewater, MA
13161	February 02, 2010	Brenda Phipps	Flagstaff, AZ

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