S 778

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IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

February 27, 2025

Ms. Rosen (for herself and Ms. Murkowski) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs

October 22 (legislative day, October 21), 2025

Reported by Mr. Moran, with an amendment [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic]

A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to require a lactation space in each medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “Lactation Spaces for Veteran Moms Act”.

SEC. 2. LACTATION SPACES IN MEDICAL CENTERS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

(a) In General.—Subchapter II of chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: “Sec. 1720M. Lactation spaces in medical centers of the Department “(a) Lactation Space Required.—The Secretary shall ensure that each medical center of the Department contains a lactation space. “(b) No Unauthorized Entry.—Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize an individual to enter a medical center of the Department or portion thereof that the individual is not otherwise authorized to enter. “(c) Lactation Space Defined.—In this section, the term ‘lactation space’ means a hygienic place, other than a bathroom, that— “(1) is shielded from view; “(2) is free from intrusion; “(3) is accessible to disabled individuals (including such individuals who use wheelchairs); “(4) contains a chair and a working surface; “(5) is easy to locate; “(6) is clearly identified with signage; and “(7) is available for use by women veterans and members of the public to express breast milk.”. (b) Clerical Amendment.—The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item related to section 1720L the following new item:

“1720M. Lactation spaces in medical centers of the Department.”. (c) Effective Date.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out section 1720M of title 38, United States Code, as added by this section, not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “Lactation Spaces for Veteran Moms Act”.

SEC. 2. LACTATION SPACES IN MEDICAL CENTERS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

(a) In General.—Subchapter II of chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: “Sec. 1720M. Lactation spaces in medical centers of the Department

“(a) Lactation Space Required.—The Secretary shall ensure that each medical center of the Department contains a lactation space.

“(b) No Unauthorized Entry.—Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize an individual to enter a medical center of the Department or portion thereof that the individual is not otherwise authorized to enter.

“(c) Lactation Space Defined.—In this section, the term ‘lactation space’ means a hygienic place, other than a bathroom, that—

“(1) is shielded from view;

“(2) is free from intrusion;

“(3) is accessible to disabled individuals (including such individuals who use wheelchairs);

“(4) contains a chair and a working surface;

“(5) is easy to locate;

“(6) is clearly identified with signage; and

“(7) is available for use by women veterans and members of the public to express breast milk.”.

(b) Clerical Amendment.—The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item related to section 1720L the following new item:

“1720M. Lactation spaces in medical centers of the Department.”.

(c) Implementation.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that—

(1) not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, not fewer than 80 percent of medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs are in compliance with section 1720M of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a); and

(2) not later than three years after such date of enactment, all medical centers of the Department are in compliance with such section.

(d) Report.—

(1) In general.—Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the progress of the Secretary in meeting the requirements under section 1720M of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), including—

(A) a list of which medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs currently have a lactation space;

(B) a list of which medical centers of the Department do not have a lactation space; and

(C) for each medical center listed under subparagraph (B), a description of actions the Department has taken to design and plan a lactation space and a timeline for such lactation space to be fully functional and open for use within the time periods specified under subsection (c).

(2) Termination.—The Secretary is not required to submit a report under paragraph (1) on or after the date on which the Secretary confirms in a report submitted under such paragraph that each medical center of the Department contains a lactation space. Calendar No. 200

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 778

A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to require a lactation space in each medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

October 22 (legislative day, October 21), 2025

Reported with an amendment