CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Senate Resolution No. 20Introduced by Senators Cortese and Weber Pierson(Coauthors: Senators Alvarado-Gil, Ashby, Blakespear, Caballero, Gonzalez, Hurtado, Limn, Prez, Rubio, and Umberg)February 21, 2025 Relative to California Human Milk Donation Month.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSR 20, as introduced, Cortese. Digest KeyBill TextWHEREAS, World Human Milk Donation Day is celebrated annually on May 19 and was first established in Brazil in 2004 to raise awareness about the critical role of donor-human milk for vulnerable infants; andWHEREAS, Human-milk banks around the globe, including those in California, play a pivotal role in collecting, processing, and distributing donated breast milk to babies in need, particularly preterm and low-birth-weight infants whose mothers cannot provide sufficient milk; andWHEREAS, The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the use of donor-human milk as the best alternative when a mothers own milk is unavailable, insufficient, or contraindicated, underscoring the vital health benefits that breast milk provides to these infants; andWHEREAS, The celebration of World Human Milk Donation Day is supported by the global community, and World Human Milk Donation Days 2023 slogan, A small gesture can feed a big dream - donate breast milk! inspires collective action to ensure that all babies, regardless of their circumstances, have access to the life-saving nutrition of human milk; andWHEREAS, Donor-human milk has been shown to reduce the risk of life-threatening conditions in premature infants, such as necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), and to improve overall health outcomes, especially in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) across California; andWHEREAS, Californias nonprofit milk banks, such as Mothers Milk Bank California, have been instrumental in promoting human-milk donation, educating the public, and providing safe and pasteurized donor-human milk to hospitals and families throughout the state, ensuring that the most fragile babies receive the nourishment that they need to thrive; andWHEREAS, The compassionate act of donating breast milk reflects the strength of community support for Californias infants and their families, promoting health equity and helping to address disparities in access to donor-human milk for the most vulnerable populations; andWHEREAS, The importance of human-milk donation is further highlighted by the rising demand for donor-human milk, as approximately 300,000 babies are admitted to NICUs annually in the United States, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH); and this demand is further driven by potential formula shortages, as well as California hospitals efforts to support the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative by 2025, which promotes breastfeeding and the use of donor-human milk as a vital alternative for infants in need; andWHEREAS, California remains committed to supporting and expanding the efforts of its milk banks, hospitals, health care professionals, and donor mothers in providing donor-human milk to babies in need; andWHEREAS, Declaring a human-milk donation month will further promote awareness and recognition of the life-saving impact of human-milk donations, encourage more mothers to consider becoming human-milk donors, and celebrate the altruistic contributions of those who make a difference in the lives of countless babies and their families; now, therefore, be itResolved by the Senate of the State of California, That the month of May is hereby declared California Human Milk Donation Month in honor of the dedicated efforts of human-milk donors, milk banks, health care providers, and advocates who work tirelessly to ensure that all infants have access to life-sustaining breast milk; and be it furtherResolved, That the Senate of the State of California encourages all Californians to support and promote the ongoing efforts of nonprofit milk banks and their partners, and to raise awareness of the life-saving power of human-milk donation for the health and well-being of Californias children; and be it furtherResolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Senate Resolution No. 20Introduced by Senators Cortese and Weber Pierson(Coauthors: Senators Alvarado-Gil, Ashby, Blakespear, Caballero, Gonzalez, Hurtado, Limn, Prez, Rubio, and Umberg)February 21, 2025 Relative to California Human Milk Donation Month.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSR 20, as introduced, Cortese. Digest Key
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION
Senate Resolution
No. 20
Introduced by Senators Cortese and Weber Pierson(Coauthors: Senators Alvarado-Gil, Ashby, Blakespear, Caballero, Gonzalez, Hurtado, Limn, Prez, Rubio, and Umberg)February 21, 2025
Introduced by Senators Cortese and Weber Pierson(Coauthors: Senators Alvarado-Gil, Ashby, Blakespear, Caballero, Gonzalez, Hurtado, Limn, Prez, Rubio, and Umberg)
February 21, 2025
Relative to California Human Milk Donation Month.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SR 20, as introduced, Cortese.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
WHEREAS, World Human Milk Donation Day is celebrated annually on May 19 and was first established in Brazil in 2004 to raise awareness about the critical role of donor-human milk for vulnerable infants; and
WHEREAS, Human-milk banks around the globe, including those in California, play a pivotal role in collecting, processing, and distributing donated breast milk to babies in need, particularly preterm and low-birth-weight infants whose mothers cannot provide sufficient milk; and
WHEREAS, The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the use of donor-human milk as the best alternative when a mothers own milk is unavailable, insufficient, or contraindicated, underscoring the vital health benefits that breast milk provides to these infants; and
WHEREAS, The celebration of World Human Milk Donation Day is supported by the global community, and World Human Milk Donation Days 2023 slogan, A small gesture can feed a big dream - donate breast milk! inspires collective action to ensure that all babies, regardless of their circumstances, have access to the life-saving nutrition of human milk; and
WHEREAS, Donor-human milk has been shown to reduce the risk of life-threatening conditions in premature infants, such as necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), and to improve overall health outcomes, especially in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) across California; and
WHEREAS, Californias nonprofit milk banks, such as Mothers Milk Bank California, have been instrumental in promoting human-milk donation, educating the public, and providing safe and pasteurized donor-human milk to hospitals and families throughout the state, ensuring that the most fragile babies receive the nourishment that they need to thrive; and
WHEREAS, The compassionate act of donating breast milk reflects the strength of community support for Californias infants and their families, promoting health equity and helping to address disparities in access to donor-human milk for the most vulnerable populations; and
WHEREAS, The importance of human-milk donation is further highlighted by the rising demand for donor-human milk, as approximately 300,000 babies are admitted to NICUs annually in the United States, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH); and this demand is further driven by potential formula shortages, as well as California hospitals efforts to support the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative by 2025, which promotes breastfeeding and the use of donor-human milk as a vital alternative for infants in need; and
WHEREAS, California remains committed to supporting and expanding the efforts of its milk banks, hospitals, health care professionals, and donor mothers in providing donor-human milk to babies in need; and
WHEREAS, Declaring a human-milk donation month will further promote awareness and recognition of the life-saving impact of human-milk donations, encourage more mothers to consider becoming human-milk donors, and celebrate the altruistic contributions of those who make a difference in the lives of countless babies and their families; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, That the month of May is hereby declared California Human Milk Donation Month in honor of the dedicated efforts of human-milk donors, milk banks, health care providers, and advocates who work tirelessly to ensure that all infants have access to life-sustaining breast milk; and be it further
Resolved, That the Senate of the State of California encourages all Californians to support and promote the ongoing efforts of nonprofit milk banks and their partners, and to raise awareness of the life-saving power of human-milk donation for the health and well-being of Californias children; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.