Bipartisan Hirono-Duckworth-Daines-Cruz Bill to Better Protect Parents Traveling with Breast Milk Passes Senate

WASHINGTON, DC– Bipartisan legislation led by U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Steve Daines (R-MT), and Ted Cruz (R-TX) to make it easier for parents to safely embark on air travel with breast milk and breastfeeding supplies successfully passed through the Senate. TheBottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening (BABES) Enhancement Actwould require the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to clarify and regularly update guidance on handling breast milk, baby formula and other related nutrition products, including ice packs, in consultation with leading maternal health groups.
“I am proud to see theBABES Enhancement Actpass the Senate to help ensure that families can travel with peace of mind that milk and other supplies to keep young children fed are handled with care,”saidSenator Hirono.“Parents have enough to worry about when traveling and shouldn’t have to fear being harassed, humiliated, or put in danger for simply traveling with materials they need to keep their babies fed.”
The bipartisanBABES Enhancement Actwould help keep breastfeeding parents and their kids safe and healthy while traveling by air. Mishandled breast milk can become contaminated, which puts children at risk. Moreover, parents who lactate typicallyneed to breastfeed or pumponce every few hours. Failure to do so can result in a clogged milk duct or a painful infection called mastitis. The legislation would better protect families by requiring TSA to:
This legislation would also direct an independent government watchdog to conduct an audit of compliance with TSA screening policies for passengers traveling with breast milk and other infant nutrition products, providing lawmakers with information related to violations of policies.
The full text of the legislation is availablehere.
Senator Hirono has and continues to advocate for parents and to ease the ability to travel with breastfeeding materials. In May 2023, Senator HironoreintroducedtheBottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening (BABES) EnhancementAct, bipartisan legislation to make it easier for parents to safely embark on air travel with breast milk and breastfeeding supplies, including ice packs. This legislation would require the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to clarify and regularly update guidance on handling breast milk, baby formula, and other related nutrition products in consultation with leading maternal health groups. In June 2022, Senator Hironocalledon the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to address inconsistent implementation of the 3-1-1 Liquids Rule Exemption travel policy for breastmilk and formula at airport security checkpoints, and ensure lactating individuals and their infants can travel safely without fear of harassment.
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