The 19th
Grace Panetta
The article details how Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth is reintroducing a bipartisan bill to make traveling at airports more comfortable for those who are breastfeeding. Named the BABES Enhancement Act, it ensures that those who are breastfeeding can bring their supplies and milk through TSA with no trouble. Sen. Duckworth says that often parents are denied access to their breast milk or equipment. Since the bill wasn’t picked up during the last session, it has to be reintroduced.
- There was an original BABES Act passed in 2016, which required TSA to be aware of these exemptions and carry out comprehensive training. However, it has been reported that there has been an uneven enforcement of these rules by TSA.
- These exemptions are necessary, as checking pumping equipment can increase risk of contamination. For those who are nursing delaying pumping can even bring about mastitis, which is an infection of the breast tissue.