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Marshall Space Flight CenterNursing Mothers’ Program:

Lactation Rooms

Marshall Space Flight CenterNursing Mothers’ Program:

Lactation Rooms

Billie SwinfordEqual Opportunity OfficeBillie SwinfordEqual Opportunity Office June 2003June 2003

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PurposePurpose

To provide an accommodation To provide an accommodation for nursing mothers to lactate at for nursing mothers to lactate at MSFC during working hours MSFC during working hours supported by OPM policy.supported by OPM policy.

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OPM saysOPM says

““Conference Report 107-253, accompanying Public Law 107-67, which Conference Report 107-253, accompanying Public Law 107-67, which was enacted on November 12, 2001, cited the following in Section was enacted on November 12, 2001, cited the following in Section 631: Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a woman may 631: Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a woman may breastfeed her child at any location in a Federal building or on breastfeed her child at any location in a Federal building or on Federal property, if the woman and her child are otherwise Federal property, if the woman and her child are otherwise authorized to be present at the location.”authorized to be present at the location.”

• Legislation :Legislation :

– Right to Breast Feed Act (H.R. 1848)Right to Breast Feed Act (H.R. 1848)

Ensures a woman’s right to breast feed her child on Federal PropertyEnsures a woman’s right to breast feed her child on Federal Property

– Pregnancy Discrimination Act Amendment of 1999 (H.R. 1478) :Pregnancy Discrimination Act Amendment of 1999 (H.R. 1478) :

Protects breast feeding under civil rights law. Until now the courts Protects breast feeding under civil rights law. Until now the courts have not interpreted the wording “pregnancy, childbirth and have not interpreted the wording “pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions” to include breast feeding as illegal related medical conditions” to include breast feeding as illegal grounds for employment decisions.grounds for employment decisions.

Federal PolicyFederal Policy

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Agencies that have Agencies that have implemented implemented Nursing Mothers’ Nursing Mothers’ Programs:Programs:

• National Security AgencyNational Security Agency• U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and

Nutrition ServiceNutrition Service• U.S. Office of Personnel ManagementU.S. Office of Personnel Management• National Institute of HealthNational Institute of Health• U.S. State DepartmentU.S. State Department• U.S. Department of TransportationU.S. Department of Transportation• U.S. General Accounting OfficeU.S. General Accounting Office• U.S. Department of LaborU.S. Department of Labor• NASA GSFCNASA GSFC

PrecedentsPrecedents

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MSFC’s Implementation PlanMSFC’s Implementation Plan

Implement lactation rooms across the Center Implement lactation rooms across the Center using a grass-roots, “no-cost-to Government” using a grass-roots, “no-cost-to Government” approach:approach:

Use existing spacesUse existing spaces

Use excess tables, chairs, temporary Use excess tables, chairs, temporary partitionspartitions

Provide signage for doorsProvide signage for doors

Implement lactation rooms across the Center Implement lactation rooms across the Center using a grass-roots, “no-cost-to Government” using a grass-roots, “no-cost-to Government” approach:approach:

Use existing spacesUse existing spaces

Use excess tables, chairs, temporary Use excess tables, chairs, temporary partitionspartitions

Provide signage for doorsProvide signage for doors

– –

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MSFC’s Implementation PlanMSFC’s Implementation Plan

Two rooms are already established:

Building 4663, room A270

Building 4487, room B100L

First Phase:First Phase:

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MSFC’s Implementation Plan MSFC’s Implementation Plan

Building 4708, room 243Building 4708, room 243

Building 4755, room 108 Building 4755, room 108 (Now Available!)(Now Available!)

New Marshall Child Development CenterNew Marshall Child Development Center

Building 4623, room 105 Building 4623, room 105 (Now Available!)(Now Available!)

Propulsion Research CenterPropulsion Research Center

Medical CenterMedical Center

Second Phase:Second Phase:Building 4583, room 158 Building 4583, room 158 (Now Available!)(Now Available!)

Building 4666, room 286Building 4666, room 286

Building 4610, room 2041 Building 4610, room 2041 (Now Available!)(Now Available!)

Building 4200, basement Building 4200, basement (Now Available!)(Now Available!)

Building 4711, room W115Building 4711, room W115

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Next StepsNext Steps

Outreach:Outreach:

Building Managers’ MeetingBuilding Managers’ Meeting

‘ ‘Super Mom’ Kickoff MeetingSuper Mom’ Kickoff Meeting

Marshall Star ArticleMarshall Star Article

Inside Marshall, IntercomInside Marshall, Intercom

Equal Opportunity WebsiteEqual Opportunity Website