SLS 13RS-1345 ORIGINAL
Page 1 of 3
Regular Session, 2013
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 42
BY SENATOR BROOME
NUTRITION. Acknowledges the role of optimal infant nutrition during first year of life and
that new mothers require assistance to provide the best nutritional start for their babies and
urges DHH to facilitate maternal and infant nutrition awareness and provide access to
nutritional programs.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To acknowledge the role of optimal infant nutrition during the first year of life and that new2
mothers require information, guidance, and support to provide the best nutritional3
start for their babies and to urge the Department of Health and Hospitals to facilitate4
public-private collaboration with families and communities to increase maternal and5
infant nutrition awareness, particularly in underserved areas, and provide access to6
nutritional programs for mothers and their children beginning in utero and7
throughout their first year of life.8
WHEREAS, scientific research demonstrates that good nutrition beginning in utero9
and extending throughout the first year of life is critical to the healthy growth and10
development of infants and that breastfeeding is the best form of infant nutrition by11
providing certain health benefits for both the mother and child; and12
WHEREAS, the United States Surgeon General and the American Academy of13
Pediatrics recommend babies be exclusively fed with breast milk for the first six months of14
life, and continue with breast milk through the first year of life; and15
WHEREAS, Healthy People 2020, an initiative that comprises science-based,16
ten-year national objectives to improve the health of all Americans, administered under the17
United States Department of Health and Human Services, aims to increase the percentage18 SCR NO. 42
SLS 13RS-1345 ORIGINAL
Page 2 of 3
of women initiating breastfeeding to 81.9 percent and still continuing to breastfeed when1
their newborn is six months of age to 60.6 percent; and2
WHEREAS, it is a mother's choice how she feeds her baby, and the choice is often3
made based on the best feeding option for her infant given her and her family's life4
circumstance, including familial, cultural, and community issues as well as based on barriers5
to breastfeeding, including returning to work, medical difficulties, and lack of breastfeeding6
support; and7
WHEREAS, The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding, the8
American Academy of Pediatrics, and other public health organizations do promote9
breastfeeding goals, and some go beyond to promote other dietary guidance for feeding an10
infant under age two and identify what a mother should do if she cannot or chooses not to11
breastfeed or needs to supplement breastfeeding; and12
WHEREAS, an example of this is provided in the United States Department of13
Agriculture Food & Nutrition Service publication, "Feeding Your Baby in the First Year",14
which gives participants in the Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) food program a basic15
overview of the best sources of nutrition for their babies in the first year, starting with16
breastfeeding, including infant formula if needed, followed with the introduction of solid17
foods; and 18
WHEREAS, infant nutrition research has generated a range of iron-fortified infant19
formulas (as well as specialized infant formulas for premature babies and for those babies20
with medical conditions needing sustenance to survive and thrive) that address a critical need21
in providing a safe and nutritious alternative to breast milk for mothers who are unable to22
breastfeed. 23
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana acknowledges24
the role of optimal infant nutrition during the first year of life and that new mothers require25
information, guidance, and support to provide the best nutritional start for their babies. 26
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana recognizes27
scientific research documenting that breastfeeding is the best form of infant nutrition and28
supports breastfeeding promotion policies, and that when maternity patients choose a method29
of infant feeding or medical needs necessitate a certain method, mothers shall be fully30 SCR NO. 42
SLS 13RS-1345 ORIGINAL
Page 3 of 3
supported and counseled, whether exclusively breastfeeding, using donor milk, exclusively1
formula feeding, or breastfeeding and supplementing with pumped breast milk, donor milk2
and/or infant formula. 3
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana urges the4
Department of Health and Hospitals to facilitate public-private collaboration with families5
and communities to increase maternal and infant nutrition awareness, particularly in6
underserved areas, and provide access to nutritional programs for mothers and their children7
beginning in utero and throughout their first year of life.8
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the9
secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals.10
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Jerry J. Guillot.
DIGEST
Broome SCR No. 42
Acknowledges the role of optimal infant nutrition during the first year of life and that new
mothers require information, guidance, and support to provide the best nutritional start for
their babies.
Urges DHH to facilitate public-private collaboration with families and communities to
increase maternal and infant nutrition awareness, particularly in underserved areas, and
provide access to nutritional programs for mothers and their children beginning in utero and
throughout their first year of life.