It's just a day away...more on that on Sunday (or probably Monday, given our states)
Anyway, this article made me think of JP and his "problems" with a few lab members (former lab members?). Why I was reading this, do not ask. I just want to hear him tell that story over again. His little face gets all bent out of shape. Maybe Mariano would want to get in on these tax breaks!
New Bill Would Create Tax Incentives for Breast-feeding
by Dustin Stamper
The U.S. breast-feeding rate could see some improvement thanks to tax incentives in a new bill introduced on May 5 by Reps. Carolyn B. Maloney, D-N.Y., and Christopher Shays, R-Conn.
Date: May 6, 2005
The U.S. breast-feeding rate could see some improvement thanks to tax incentives in a new bill introduced on May 5 by Reps. Carolyn B. Maloney, D-N.Y., and Christopher Shays, R-Conn.
Nursing mothers packed the crowd at the press conference introducing the Breastfeeding Promotion Act (H.R. 2122), many actively breast-feeding in support. (For the bill text, see Doc 2005-9553 [PDF].)
The bill would give employers up to a 50 percent tax credit for expenses incurred to establish workplace "lactation stations," purchase or rent lactation-related equipment, and hire lactation consultants. It would also make expenses incurred for breastfeeding equipment deductible for individuals as medical care expenses.
Maloney introduced an identical version of the bill in the last session of Congress, but it failed to ever reach the House floor. With prolonged deficits continuing to trouble lawmakers, the price of the tax incentives could be an issue. Shays was unable to provide a cost for the bill during the press conference, but said "it's not even an issue."
Both Shays and Maloney said that assuring a woman's right to express milk in the workplace and removing the stigma from breast- feeding are far more important than the tax portions of the bill. According to Maloney, studies show that children who are not breast- fed have higher rates of contracting numerous illnesses.
"We need to reverse the fact that the United States has one of the lowest breast-feeding rates in the world," Maloney said.
As for objections from the squeamish, "Get a life," Shays said.
