McCaskill, Bipartisan Group of Colleagues Continue Push for Friendly Airports for Mothers Act

Press Release

U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill joined a bipartisan group of colleagues in renewing efforts to require large and medium sized airports to provide clean, private accommodations for nursing mothers.

"New mothers already dealing with the stress of the airport shouldn't be relegated to nursing in the last stall of the bathroom," McCaskill said. "This is a commonsense, simple provision that'll better accommodate moms' needs by giving them convenient, private accommodations while traveling."

The legislation McCaskill introduced with Republican Senator Deb Fischer of Nebraska and Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois would ensure that within two years, all large and medium hub airports in the United States, including Kansas City International and St. Louis Lambert International airports, provide a private space that is accessible to persons with disabilities in each terminal for mothers to express breastmilk.

According to a 2014 survey, only 8 of 100 airports in the U.S. offered suitable nursing accommodations.

The Friendly Airports for Mothers Act passed both the Senate and the House of Representatives last year as part of a proposed reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration. It has been endorsed by the U.S. Breastfeeding Coalition, the National Association of County and City Health Officials, the National Military Family Association, the Association of State Public Health Nutritionists, the American College of Nurse-Midwives and the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses.

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