On the recordJune 9, 2016
I join the chairman in supporting the gentleman's amendment. This amendment would add approximately 30 lactation rooms to the Capitol complex. Working mothers rely on these rooms--and I can speak from experience--to ensure that they can continue to work while breastfeeding their children. This amendment rightfully recognizes that Congress must lead by example to ensure that women can be both moms and leaders in their field. In fact, my own office right now is serving as a lactation room, and that is because one of my wonderful staff is a nursing mom. While I am happy to do that, it is our responsibility to maintain an environment where all of our employees feel comfortable, including working mothers. Our staff deserves to feel welcome and secure when they are ready to return to work. We should be doing everything we can to encourage working moms to return to the workplace, and it must start here on Capitol Hill. As we all know, the offices in which we work are inadequate for moms to pump. Our staff is many to an office with open-air cubicles. Having lactation rooms is mandatory, essential, if we want to keep talented women in the workplace. I want to thank the gentleman for offering this amendment. I urge its support and appreciate the chairman's support.
