Federal bill would expand donor breast milk access for high-risk newborns
In committeeH.R. 8545Latest action
Sponsor: Chrissy Houlahan · Representative · PA
AIDecoded by AI · checked against the recordRead the official text
Official title: Access to Donor Milk Act of 2026
119th Congress
Topics: Jobs & the economy
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govIn plain words
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HR 8545 lets WIC funds support donor milk banks and creates a $3M emergency grant program for nonprofit milk banks.
55-second read · 5 questions answered below
What does this do?
HR 8545 would allow states to use WIC program funds to collect, store, and transfer donated breast milk to nonprofit milk banks. It establishes an emergency grant program for those milk banks and directs the Department of Health and Human Services to develop safety guidelines and public awareness materials about donor milk.
Who does it affect?
The bill most directly affects premature and sick newborns in hospitals, their families, nonprofit donor milk banks, and lower-income families enrolled in WIC. Healthcare providers including pediatricians, midwives, and lactation consultants would also receive the new public awareness materials.
Why does it matter?
States would gain a new funding mechanism through WIC to support donor milk infrastructure, which currently operates without that federal channel. Nonprofit milk banks facing emergencies, supply shortages, or sharp rises in demand would have access to federal grants that do not currently exist.
What does it cost, and who pays?
- Grants start at $3 million
- Covers staffing, equipment, fees
- WIC funds redirected to milk banks
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Where does it stand?
- IntroducedApr 28, 2026
- House committeeYou are here · Apr 28, 2026
- House vote
- Senate
- The president's desk
Right now: a House committee is reviewing it. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House before reaching the president.
Latest action: — Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.