,,iii  #aaeth ,,congress  #ast ,session 
,s4 ,,res4 #bdf  ,,in ,,the ,,senate    
,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states  ,august   
#c1 #bjag ,mr4 ,merkley 7for himself and
 ,mr4 ,markey7 submitted the following  
resolution2 which was referred to the   
,committee on the ,judiciary            
,,resolution  ,designating the first    
week in ,august #bjag as ,world         
,breastfeeding ,week1 and designating   
,august #bjag as ,national              
,breastfeeding ,month4  ,whereas the    
,american ,academy of ,pediatrics       
recommends that breastfeeding continue  
for at least #ab months after the birth 
of a baby and for as long as the mother 
and baby desire2 ,whereas the ,world    
,health ,organization recommends        
continued breastfeeding for #b years or 
longer after the birth of a baby2       
,whereas the ,world ,alliance for       
,breastfeeding ,action has designated   
the first week of ,august as ,world     
,breastfeeding ,week1 and the ,united   
,states ,breastfeeding ,committee has   

designated ,august as ,national         
,breastfeeding ,month2 ,whereas         
,national ,breastfeeding ,month focuses 
on how data and measurement can be used 
to build and reinforce the connections  
between breastfeeding and a broad       
spectrum of other health topics and     
initiatives2 ,whereas ,world            
,breastfeeding ,week and ,national      
,breastfeeding ,month provide important 
opportunities to address barriers to    
breastfeeding faced by families across  
the ,united ,states2 ,whereas1 according
 to the #bjaf ,breastfeeding ,report    
,card of the ,centers for ,disease      
,control and ,prevention1 #d of every #e
 mothers1 or #ha4a percent of mothers1  
in the ,united ,states start            
breastfeeding their babies2 ,whereas by 
the end of #f months after the birth of 
a baby1 breastfeeding rates fall to     
#ea4h percent1 and only #bb4c percent of
 babies are exclusively breastfed at #f 
months of age2 ,whereas #b of every #c  
mothers report that they are unable to  

reach their personal breastfeeding      
goals2 ,whereas there are substantial   
racial and ethnic disparities in        
breastfeeding initiation and duration2  
,whereas1 in #bjac1 #hd4c percent of    
non-,hispanic ,white infants initiated  
breastfeeding1 as compared to--  7#a7   
#ff4c percent of non-,hispanic ,black   
infants2 and  7#b7 #fh4c percent of     
non-,hispanic ,american ,indian and     
,alaska ,native infants2  ,whereas the  
,healthy ,people #bjbj objectives for   
breastfeeding are that-- 7#a7 #hb       
percent of babies are breastfed at some 
time2  7#b7 #fa percent of babies       
continue to be breastfed at #f months2  
and  7#c7 #cd percent of babies continue
 to be breastfed at #a year2  ,whereas  
breastfeeding is a proven primary       
prevention strategy that builds a       
foundation for life-long health and     
wellness2 ,whereas the evidence of the  
value of breastfeeding to the health of 
women and children is scientific1 solid1
 and continually reaffirmed by new      

research2 ,whereas1 during the first    
year of the life of a baby1 a family    
that follows optimal breastfeeding      
practices can save between #a1bjj and   
#a1ejj in expenses on infant formula2   
,whereas a #bjaf study of maternal and  
pediatric health outcomes and associated
 costs based on #bjab breastfeeding     
rates indicates that if #ij percent of  
infants were breastfed according to     
medical recommendations1 #c1cdj deaths1 
#c1jjj1jjj1jjj in medical costs1 and    
#ad1bjj1jjj1jjj in costs relating to    
premature death would be prevented      
annually2 and ,whereas the great        
majority of pregnant women and new      
mothers want to breastfeed but face     
significant barriers in community1      
health care1 and employment settings3   
,now1 therefore1 be it  ,that the       
,senate-- 7#a7 designates the first week
 of ,august #bjag as ,world             
,breastfeeding ,week2  7#b7 designates  
,august #bjag as ,national              
,breastfeeding ,month2  7#c7 supports   

the goals of ,national ,breastfeeding   
,month2 and  7#d7 supports policies and 
funding to ensure that all mothers who  
choose to breastfeed can access a full  
range of appropriate support from health
 care institutions1 health care         
insurers1 employers1 and government     
entities4