Hirono, Colleagues Renew Bipartisan Push to Better Protect Parents Traveling with Breast Milk

WASHINGTON, DC– U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) joined Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Steve Daines (R-MT), and Ted Cruz (R-TX) in reintroducing bipartisan legislation to make it easier for parents to safely embark on air travel with breast milk and breastfeeding supplies. TheBottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening (BABES) Enhancement Actwould require the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to clarify and regularly update guidance on the safe handling of breast milk and breastfeeding supplies, baby formula and other related products in consultation with nationally recognized maternal health organizations. This reintroduction comes after the bipartisan legislation passed the Senate by unanimous consent late last year in the 118thCongress.
“On any given day, thousands of families travel by air with milk and the supplies they need to keep their babies fed,”said Senator Hirono.“TheBABES Enhancement Actwill require TSA to clarify and regularly update its guidance on handling breast milk and baby formula, helping to ensure that parents and their young children can travel with peace of mind. I’m glad to join my colleagues in reintroducing this legislation to keep families and their children safe and healthy.”
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.
In the U.S. House of Representatives, Representative Eric Swalwell (D-CA) is the lead sponsor of the bipartisan companion legislation.
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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