Tax Incentives for workplaces

Well here's a welcome sign.  I've blgged several times before about how maybe we could provide tax incentives to workplaces that encourage moms who want to continue breastfeeding by supporting lactation rooms and break times for them when they return to work.

Now a group of legislators has proposed just that!  Three Members of Congress have introduced the Breastfeeding Promotion Act.  The act goes beyond individual state laws that protect a mother's right to breastfeed.  This creates a federal law that among others things does the following:

• provides tax incentives for employers that establish private lactation places in the workplace
• creates time and privacy for working moms to pump
• makes breastfeeding equipment tax deductible
• establishes minimum safety standards for breast pumps

The model for the legislation is in place in Oregon already, which has seen good results.  Under the national law, moms would be protected under the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

This legislation makes perfect sense.  It promotes breastfeeding, is good for our healthcare system ( read that has healthcare reform) and recognizes an increasing part of the workforce: women!