What’s the most common reason for a mom to stop breastfeeding before she and her baby wants to? Returning to work.

Every state protects the right of a mother to breastfeed, but only 12 states have laws protecting working, pumping, breastfeeding moms. Employers in most states have no obligation to provide any assistance – the time, a private space, a clean refrigerator – to mothers who want to pump at work.

Last year, Congresswoman and mom Carolyn Maloney introduced a bill to promote breastfeeding, protect the rights of breastfeeding mothers, and make it a little easier for all working mothers to breastfeed.

The provisions of the bill will be to,

? amend the Civil Rights Act to protect breastfeeding women – including moms who pump milk – from being fired or discriminated against in the workplace
? provide tax incentives for businesses that establish private, lactation areas in the workplace
? provide for a performance standard for breast pumps
? allow breastfeeding equipment and services, such as lactation consultants, to be tax deductible for families

Sounds like a good thing, right? Give your support to the legislation by asking your congressperson to co-sponsor the bill. It’s very easy – just click here to send an email to your elected official asking for their support. The more support the bill has, the more likely it is to pass.

You can read more about the bill at Carolyn Maloney’s website.

In a package offered by congress and approved by President Bush to help the U.S. economy, approximately 117 million families will receive tax rebates that will hopefully give the country’s economy the stimulus it so desperately needs. Rebate checks will be between $600 and $1,200 and in some cases more depending on the amount of children within the family.The rebate breakdown is as follows: individuals will receive $600, working couples will receive $1,200, and couples with children will receive an additional $300 per child. The package will also help businesses. Business owners, including small business, will be able to increase the percentage amount of write offs for equipment and plant purchases.

The approved package gives a lower dollar amount in rebates to families, but includes almost 30 million families that would have been left out of the original package proposed. With the lower dollar amounts, more working families will be able to receive the rebate.

Although an exact date has not been specified as to when the checks will be printed and mailed, don’t expect a check within days. Congress is asking that it happen immediately, but since the stimulus package is not expected to go in front of President Bush until February 15, it looks to be like weeks before receiving your check.

Source:

Congressional Leaders Announce Rebates for 117 Million Families, ABC News