SR0170 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0170 LRB097 11472 RPM 54050 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, the World Health Organization, and the United Nations Children's Fund recommends that most babies be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life and continue on with breast milk through the first year of life; and

WHEREAS, In January 2011 the U.S. Surgeon General announced a "Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding" that identifies methods in which families, communities, employers, and health care professionals can improve breastfeeding rates and increase support for breastfeeding; and

WHEREAS, In April 2011 HealthConnect One, the Department of Human Services, and the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health released the "Illinois Breastfeeding Blueprint: A Plan for Action" to implement strategic, data-based recommendations to improve breastfeeding initiation, continuation, and exclusivity for all women, babies, and children in this State; and

WHEREAS, Breastfeeding helps provide unique health benefits to babies, including lower rates of illnesses and diseases such as ear infections, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), asthma, and childhood obesity; and

WHEREAS, Studies have shown that children who were breastfed had a 20% lower risk of dying in their first year of life compared to children who were not breastfed; and

WHEREAS, Breast milk contains important nutrients that help support infant brain development; and

WHEREAS, Breastfeeding offers numerous health benefits to new mothers by reducing their risk of diabetes, breast and ovarian cancers, and postpartum depression; and

WHEREAS, Breastfeeding has positive economic impacts on families by decreasing the need to pay for medical care for a sick infant and eliminating the need to purchase infant formula; and

WHEREAS, Breastfeeding contributes to a more productive workforce since parents miss fewer days of work to care for a sick infant; and

WHEREAS, Data from 2004 to 2008 shows that only one in 3 Illinois babies met the recommendation of exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months; and

WHEREAS, Illinois is below the national average and far below the Healthy People 2020 Objectives in regards to breastfeeding continuation and exclusivity rates; and

WHEREAS, Severe racial and economic health disparities persist in breastfeeding initiation and continuation rates, especially considering that half of black mothers in Illinois never breastfeed their babies; and

WHEREAS, Many women who attempt to initiate or continue breastfeeding lack access to medical, financial, or social supports; and

WHEREAS, Medicaid provides coverage for breast pumps, but zero coverage for support services, such as lactation consultants or peer counselors; and

WHEREAS, Private insurance provides little to no coverage for breast pumps or breastfeeding support services, such as lactation consultants or breastfeeding peer counselors; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the State of Illinois recognizes the unique health, economic, and societal benefits that breastfeeding provides to babies, mothers, families, and the community as a whole; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the State of Illinois shall work to ensure that barriers to initiation and continuation of breastfeeding are removed and that a mother's right to breastfeed is upheld.