WILLIAMS SUPPORTS MOMS, ASKS FOR CHANGES TO HUMAN RELATIONS ACT

 HARRISBURG, OCT. 2 – During a Capitol news conference and rally today, Sen. Connie Williams summed up the issue of women's rights by saying that human rights are women's rights and that women's rights are human rights.

 "Discrimination – in any form – cannot and must not be tolerated," Williams said.

 Williams joined other legislators and Pennsylvanians during a rally in support of amending Pennsylvania's Human Relations Act to prohibit discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations on the basis of familial and marital status (S.B. 280 and H.B. 280).

 "I stand firm in my commitment to support these bills," Williams said. "This issue goes beyond equality to basic human rights. Moms deserve equal rights."

 Williams also spoke of another proposal to amend the Human Relations Act that would have a positive impact on moms – her legislation, Senate Bill 35. The bill would ensure that women cannot be fired or discriminated against in the workplace for expressing milk or breastfeeding during lunch breaks. Additionally, it would add mothers who return to work and continue to breastfeed to the people protected from employer discrimination under the Human Relations Act.

 "Earlier this year – just before Mother's Day – I hosted a rally in support of moms on the issue of breastfeeding," Williams said. "Following the rally, Pennsylvania took its first meaningful step to support breastfeeding moms by enacting a new law that supports a woman's freedom to breastfeed in public places. I'm hoping that efforts to amend the Human Relations Act that have gained the support of hundreds of people, will have a similar effect in shielding nursing moms who return to work from discrimination in the workplace."

 It has taken 11 years for the Pennsylvania legislature to pass a law that protects breastfeeding mothers. On July 8^th, Gov. Ed Rendell signed S.B. 34 into law (Act 28 of 2007).

 Those mothers who want to continue to feed their babies mother's milk after they return to work need a private place to pump their milk and a refrigerator in which to store it. These requirements do not pose problems for those women who have a private office and access to cold storage. But, Williams asked, what about the sales clerk, the secretary, a factory worker? Should they be forced to wean their children before they are ready?

 "It should not be a big deal, but it is," Williams said. "Returning to work after having a baby is not always a choice for some women – it is a necessity. We need to recognize and support working moms. One way that we can support them is by helping them to care for their baby by making accommodations in workplaces to support breastfeeding."

 Statistics show that while 63 percent of mothers in the United States exclusively nurse their newborns this number drops to 14 percent at six month. The American Academy of Pediatrics, however, recommends infants be breastfed exclusively for six months and continuing for at least the first year of a child's life.

 Breast milk is a baby's first source of nourishment. Breastfeeding is nature's way of ensuring the initial tangible and emotional bond between mother and child. Breastfeeding boosts a baby's immune system, is easy, convenient and free. Mothers who nurse get back into shape quicker. A new study shows a decrease in breast cancer in older mothers who nurse.

 "This basic act is as beneficial today for mother and child as it was for our earlier ancestors and the more we learn about breastfeeding the more we should encourage and support it," Williams said.