This resolution expresses support for designating a week in August 2025 as "Black Breastfeeding Week" to highlight racial disparities in breastfeeding rates and advocate for systemic support for Black mothers and infants.
Alma Adams
Representative
NC-12
This resolution expresses support for designating the week of August 25 through August 31, 2025, as "Black Breastfeeding Week." It highlights significant health disparities and systemic barriers that negatively impact breastfeeding rates among Black mothers. The designation aims to raise awareness about the critical role of breastfeeding in reducing infant mortality and improving maternal health in Black communities. Ultimately, the bill calls for comprehensive policy support to address structural racism affecting Black families' access to healthcare and essential resources.
Resolution Backs 'Black Breastfeeding Week' to Tackle $13 Billion Health Disparity
This resolution is all about making official a week dedicated to shining a light on a major public health crisis: the massive disparity in breastfeeding rates and infant health outcomes for Black mothers and babies.
It’s not just a feel-good gesture; it’s grounded in hard data. The resolution notes that in 2020-2021, only 74% of Black mothers started breastfeeding, compared to 85% of White mothers nationally. That gap isn't just a statistic—it translates directly to higher infant mortality rates and an estimated $13 billion annual hit to the U.S. economy in healthcare costs and premature deaths that could be saved if breastfeeding goals were met.
The Real Cost of the Lactation Gap
When we talk about health disparities, this resolution shows how policy failure impacts the newest and most vulnerable among us. For example, Black babies in North Carolina face infant mortality rates over three times higher than White babies. The bill highlights that breastfeeding for just three months reduces an infant’s risk of death by 38%. The resolution is essentially saying: if you want to fix the infant mortality crisis, you have to support Black mothers achieving their breastfeeding goals.
But the problem isn’t just awareness; it’s systemic barriers. The resolution points out the crushing reality for working parents: one in four mothers return to work within two weeks of giving birth. Of those who continue breastfeeding, 60% report having to pump in places that are neither adequate nor sanitary at work. Imagine trying to keep up milk supply and sanitation in a bathroom stall or a storage closet—that’s the reality for too many working parents.
Policy Fixes for Systemic Problems
Because of these workplace and societal hurdles, the resolution calls on Congress to fully back policies that address the root causes—structural racism and lack of support. This isn't just about designating a week; it’s about demanding real change. The resolution specifically advocates for several key legislative moves:
- Affordable Healthcare: Making sure Black parents can access complete, high-quality, and affordable healthcare.
- Paid Leave: Guaranteeing paid time off after having a baby so mothers can actually meet those crucial early breastfeeding goals.
- Workplace Protections: Ensuring breastfeeding mothers have good, private places to pump milk, addressing that 60% statistic head-on.
Beyond these immediate health and workplace issues, the resolution connects the dots to the broader social determinants of health. It stresses that to truly fight structural racism, Congress must ensure Black communities have access to necessities like decent housing, reliable transportation, healthy food, and clean water. It’s a reminder that policy isn't just about one issue; it’s about the whole system that determines whether a child is set up for success from day one.