Rep. Maloney, New Moms Take "Express" Subway Ride for Breastfeeding Rights For Immediate Release                           Contact: Joe Soldevere (212) 860-0606 August 4, 2006 Rep. Maloney Joins New Moms on Subway Ride for Breastfeeding Rights -Lactivists Take "Express" Train to Mark World Breastfeeding Week- New York, NY - Today, U.S. Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-Manhattan, Queens) joined the New York City Breastfeeding Promotion Leadership Committee and dozens of breastfeeding advocates and new mothers for a ride on the A subway train in celebration of World Breastfeeding Week.  The Committee initiated the subway campaign in 2004 after several mothers were ticketed for breastfeeding their children in subway cars. "We should not have to be here today," Maloney said.  "New York State law guarantees a woman's right to breastfeed, but until we have a national standard for breastfeeding rights, cities and states will still be able to prevent mothers from feeding their babies in public.  Nothing could be more natural than breastfeeding: it has a clear health benefit for both the mother and child." Prior to joining Rep. Maloney at 168th Street and Broadway, the advocates and moms attended a breastfeeding conference at Columbia Presbyterian Hosptial sponsored by the Columbia Presbyterian WIC committee.  The caravan will end at a breastfeeding promotion fair, organized by the Brooklyn Alliance for Breastfeeding Empowerment, at Restoration Plaza in Brooklyn. Background: Congresswoman Maloney led efforts in Congress to protect the rights of new mothers.  In 1999, she passed legislation that guarantees the rights of women to breastfeed on federal property.  Rep. Maloney is also the author of H.R. 2122, The Breastfeeding Promotion Act, which would encourage employers to make their businesses more family-friendly and would expand the rights of breastfeeding mothers in the workplace. The New York City Breastfeeding Promotion Leadership Committee was established to bring together representatives from breastfeeding programs in NYC to share information on current breastfeeding projects; identify the needs and gaps in breastfeeding initiatives; collaborate efforts to increase breastfeeding initiation and duration rates; plan training for breastfeeding professionals; sponsor forums for Hospital and WIC lactation coordinators; and encourage mothers to breastfeed in public. Joe Soldevere Press Secretary Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-14)Office:  (212) 860-0606Mobile: (646) 831-1649