Bill Overview
Title: Lactation Spaces for Veteran Moms Act
Description: This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure that each of its medical centers contains a hygienic lactation space that is not a bathroom and meets other specifications (e.g., must be easy to locate).
Sponsors: Rep. Luria, Elaine G. [D-VA-2]
Target Audience
Population: Breastfeeding Women Veterans
Estimated Size: 20000
- The bill directly concerns veteran mothers who will require lactation spaces at VA medical centers.
- Approximately 2 million women veterans in the U.S., making up about 10% of the total veteran population.
- A significant portion of these women veterans are of childbearing age, likely between 18-44 years old.
- According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, in 2021 over 200,000 women veterans used VA healthcare services.
- The availability of lactation spaces would primarily benefit breastfeeding women veterans, which could be around 10% of the women veterans using such services, translating to approximately 20,000 individuals.
Reasoning
- The policy is targeted specifically at veteran mothers who are breastfeeding. This is a subset of the total veteran population, with estimates suggesting about 20,000 women could benefit directly from the lactation spaces.
- The provided budget for the first year is $30,000,000, with a total of $75,000,000 over 10 years, which should cover the establishment and maintenance of lactation spaces in VA medical centers nationwide.
- Most women veterans of childbearing age are likely to be between 18-44 years old. This demographic will make up the majority of those impacted by the policy.
- The impact on those outside the target population, such as male veterans or female veterans not of childbearing age, will be negligible, though they may appreciate the inclusivity efforts.
Simulated Interviews
Veteran, Software Developer (San Diego, CA)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's about time that lactation spaces are made available in VA centers. It was challenging finding a clean place to pump at the VA when I had my first child.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
VA Medical Staff (Austin, TX)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is crucial for supporting our veteran mothers. It reflects a growing understanding of their needs.
- I'm proud to see such improvements and be part of this transformation within the VA.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Veteran, College Student (Seattle, WA)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a new mother, having access to a proper lactation space would ease my stress significantly.
- This policy would show that the VA prioritizes our needs as women veterans.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Veteran, Entrepreneur (Baltimore, MD)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having dedicated lactation spaces is a step in the right direction, but it'll be important to ensure they're well-maintained.
- It would make my visits much more accommodating knowing I'll have a private and clean space.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Veteran, Nurse (Miami, FL)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's sometimes been difficult managing work and feeding schedules.
- These spaces will make things easier for veterans like myself trying to balance all these aspects.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Veteran, Graduate Student (New York, NY)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I look forward to this change, as it could mean a lot less stress during my visits to the VA.
- It'll also help normalize breastfeeding in our society if such spaces are readily available everywhere.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Veteran, Small Business Owner (Denver, CO)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Lactation spaces are a welcomed improvement not just for those breastfeeding, as it represents acknowledging women's diverse needs.
- With this, going to the VA won't be yet another hassle when managing breastfeeding.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Veteran, Social Worker (Chicago, IL)
Age: 41 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Finally, our specific needs are being recognized. This would remove some of the barriers to benefiting fully from VA services.
- I'm hopeful this will lead to more inclusive policies in the future.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Veteran, Physician at VA (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Even though this policy doesn't impact me directly, I'm glad to see the VA taking steps to address our female veterans' specific needs.
- It's a positive change that reflects our commitment to equality and support for all our veterans.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Retired Veteran, Volunteer (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 48 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having advocated for these changes for years, I'm thrilled they're materializing.
- These spaces aren't just a convenience; they're a necessity for many women.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $30000000 (Low: $20000000, High: $40000000)
Year 2: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $7000000)
Year 3: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $7000000)
Year 5: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $7000000)
Year 10: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $7000000)
Year 100: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $7000000)
Key Considerations
- The initial investment will be higher due to construction and renovation costs of creating lactation spaces.
- Operational costs will include maintenance and potential staff training.
- The impact on overall VA budget should be considered, given other financial priorities in veteran healthcare.