Bill > HR1646

This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide a dedicated lactation space in each VA medical center, with specific requirements to ensure a comfortable and accessible environment for nursing mothers. The legislation defines a "lactation space" as a hygienic area that is separate from bathrooms, shielded from view, free from intrusion, and accessible to disabled individuals, including those using wheelchairs. The space must include a chair and working surface, be easy to locate, clearly marked with signage, and available for use by women veterans and members of the public who need to express breast milk. The bill mandates that the VA implement these lactation spaces within two years of the act's enactment, and importantly, clarifies that this requirement does not grant unauthorized access to medical center areas. By establishing these guidelines, the bill aims to support breastfeeding mothers by providing them with a dignified and practical space to express milk while accessing VA medical facilities.

Health and Social Services, Military Affairs and Security

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1646/all-info