Reps. Adams, Watson Coleman Introduce Black Breastfeeding Week Resolution
WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12), co-founder and co-chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, and Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), co-chair of the Caucus on Black Women and Girls, introduced the Black Breastfeeding Week resolution, recognizing August 25, 2025, through August 31, 2025, as “Black Breastfeeding Week.”
Black Breastfeeding Week highlights the disparity in breastfeeding rates between Black mothers and white mothers. According to the CDC’s 2022 Breastfeeding Report Card, only 74% of Black mothers initiated breastfeeding compared to 85% of white mothers. Breastfeeding has been found to have improved health outcomes for infants, including lowering risk of short- and long-term illnesses and diseases, strengthening immune systems, and providing vital nutrients during early childhood development.
“Breastfeeding is a Black maternal health issue, one we must address to prevent more of our mothers and children from needlessly losing their lives from this crisis,” said Congresswoman Adams. “We know breastfeeding improves infant health outcomes but far too often, Black women are not given the support they need to breastfeed their children: maternal leave, accessible healthcare, food security, and racial equity in medicine. I am proud to introduce the Black Breastfeeding Week resolution to bring attention to the breastfeeding disparity Black women in America face and the policies we can enact to best take care of our country’s children.”
“We must recognize breastfeeding as both a hunger issue and a health equity issue,” said Rep. Watson Coleman. “Black women are pushed to formula-feed after delivery at much higher rates than other women. Consequently, Black women have among the lowest breastfeeding rates in the United States. Black Breastfeeding Week helps us recognize this issue and those working to ensure all women have the information they need to make the best decisions for themselves and their babies.”
Black women in the United States face significant barriers to breastfeeding. Lack of paid maternal leave and inadequate workplace breastfeeding spaces, which disproportionately impact Black women, make regular breastfeeding for working mothers difficult. Meanwhile, medical bias also contributes to the disparity, with hospitals being twice as likely to provide formula to Black infants than white infants.
The resolution can be found here.