Press Releases

WASHINGTON—U.S. Representatives Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Eric Swalwell (CA-14), Maria Salazar (FL-27), and Anna Paulina Luna (FL-13) introduced bipartisan legislation to make it easier for parents to safely travel with breast milk.

The Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening (BABES) Enhancement Act is co-led in the Senate by Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Steve Daines (R-MT), Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI). 

The BABES Act will require the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to strengthen and streamline protocols for screening breast milk, formula, and feeding equipment. These improvements will help ensure that parents can navigate airport security without unnecessary delays, confusion, or the risk of damaging other related nutrition products.

“As a mom, I know firsthand how difficult it can be to travel when you are breastfeeding or worried about how to feed your child,” said Pettersen. “Like so many moms, I've experienced the frustration of having to throw out milk or pumping supplies, despite them being TSA-approved. Outdated regulations or lack of training shouldn’t add to an already stressful situation. We need clear policies about how TSA handles breast milk, baby formula, and pumping supplies so parents can travel without worrying that they will be confiscated, contaminated or mishandled. This is a bipartisan, commonsense step to support families and keep our kids safe and healthy.”

“As a husband and father, my wife and I know how challenging traveling can be for new parents. TSA screening is already stressful enough without the added anxiety and humiliation of having your breast milk or formula heavily scrutinized and mistreated,” said Swalwell. “The BABES Act will ensure TSA handles these screenings with care, consulting maternal health experts to establish proper hygienic standards while maintaining robust security measures. This bill is about giving parents peace of mind so they can focus on their families while they travel.”

“Being pro-family means we need to make traveling as easy as possible for mothers,” said Salazar. “This bill ensures that food and breast milk necessary for the healthy growth of infants is not mishandled while families are flying, and provides TSA the authorities to update these policies as necessary.”

“Every parent deserves the confidence that their children's nutrition and feeding equipment will be treated with care and respect while traveling on an airplane,” said Luna. “The BABES Act is an important step toward creating a more family-friendly travel experience by ensuring TSA protocols are fair, swift, and hygienic, providing parents with peace of mind, all while upholding essential security standards.”

Under the BABES Enhancement Act, TSA will:

• Develop clear and consistent guidelines in consultation with nationally recognized maternal health organizations for screening breast milk, formula, and related feeding equipment; 
• Ensure all TSA officers receive enhanced training on these procedures to prevent improper handling or disposal; 
•  Improve transparency and communication with travelers about their rights when transporting these critical items; and 
• Update its guidance every five years to respond to emerging needs of parents and to account for developments in technology.

The bill also would direct an independent government watchdog to conduct an audit of compliance with TSA screening policies for passengers traveling with breast milk and other infant nutrition products, providing lawmakers with information related to violations of policies.

The Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Enhancement Act is endorsed by March of Dimes, the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, MomsRising, and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine.

Representative Pettersen just welcomed a new baby boy, Samuel, and has been fighting for policies like this one that support new moms. Pettersen is leading the call to allow proxy voting – or remote voting – for Members of Congress who are new parents. Proxy voting for new parents would ensure Members don’t have to choose between representing their constituents and taking care of their newborns during such a critical time.

This is just the latest in her work to support new parents. During her time in the Colorado legislature, Pettersen was the first state lawmaker in Colorado history to take parental leave after giving birth to her son, Davis. Pettersen had to seek permission from Leadership and categorize her absence as a “chronic illness” in order to be paid while on leave. That’s why she brought legislation to change the outdated law and allow for paid parental leave for all future Colorado state lawmakers.

Read the full text of the bill HERE.