Well, would you look at this!
From the Boston Herald:
[Massachusetts] House Ways and Means chairman Robert DeLeo intends to rally legislative support Monday for a bill that legally protects nursing moms when they breast-feed in public, and he hopes to get it passed before year’s end.
DeLeo will release the bill, which already has the backing of Gov. Deval Patrick, from his committee with a favorable review Monday.
“Breast-feeding is a public health issue, and women should not be fearful of the commonwealth or their employers’ retribution just for doing something healthy for their baby,” said DeLeo.
Massachusetts is one of only four states and territories, including West Virginia, Guam and American Samoa, that don’t have laws protecting nursing mothers from indecency violations, according to National Conference of State Legislatures.
The bill, originally filed by Rep. David Linsky (D-Framingham) and Sen. Susan Fargo (D-Lincoln), would allow moms to nurse babies in public places, make it unlawful for anyone to stop a mother from breast-feeding and ensure employers provide a time and place for nursing moms.
Motherwear is based in Massachusetts, and I live there, too. Our local breastfeeding coalition has members who have been pushing for this for years, writing letters and making the trek to the State House in support of it. But every year the bill has died. So this is a long time coming!
Tomorrow's post features a story that demonstrates the need for this bill, as have past stories like these from iParty, and other Massachusetts establishments.
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