HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	133
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

SUPPORTING THE BREASTFEEDING MOTHERS' BILL OF RIGHTS OFFERED AS SENATE BILL NO. 1674 aND ASSEMBLY BILL NO. 3782 IN THE NEW YORK STATE LEGISLATURE.

     WHEREAS, numerous studies and reports published in the last several decades by the Centers for Disease Control, Food and Drug Administration, and American Academy of Pediatrics have concluded that breastfed infants are healthier than bottle-fed babies; and

WHEREAS, studies continue to show that breastfed infants have fewer hospital stays, suffer fewer ear and gastrointestinal infections, rashes, food allergies, and diarrhea and are at lower risk for sudden infant death syndrome, asthma, and obesity than bottle-fed babies; and

     WHEREAS, breastfeeding also has economic benefits, as mothers can expect to spend as much $700 or more for the first year of formula feeding; and

     WHEREAS, a United States Department of Agriculture analysis estimates that at least $3,600,000,000 could be saved nationally if only fifty per cent of mothers breastfed their infants until they were at least six months old; and

     WHEREAS, women who receive appropriate, culturally sensitive information and support about breastfeeding during and immediately following their childbirth delivery are eight times more likely to continue breastfeeding for at least six weeks compared to women who received little or no post delivery support about breastfeeding; and

     WHEREAS, Senate Bill No. 1674 and Assembly Bill No. 3782 of the New York State Legislature propose to codify every woman's right to be informed about the benefits of breastfeeding and to have an environment that is conducive to what all pediatricians agree to be the safest and healthiest choice for newborn and infant feeding; and

      WHEREAS, the bills propose adoption of a statement of rights, known as the breastfeeding mothers' bill of rights, to:  provide mothers with basic breastfeeding-related rights before, during and after the birth of their baby; require that the statement of rights be conspicuously posted in a public place in maternal health care facilities, nurseries, maternity floors, and post-delivery recovery rooms; and require assistance from lactation specialists in the hospital and after discharge; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2007, the Senate concurring, that the Legislature expresses its support for the breastfeeding mothers' bill of rights offered in Senate Bill No. 1674 and Assembly Bill No. 3782 of the New York State Legislature; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to Speaker Sheldon Silver of the New York State Assembly, President Joseph Bruno of the New York State Senate, and to the introducers of the respective bills, State Senator Liz Krueger and State Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Health; Breastfeeding; Breastfeeding Mothers' Bill of Rights