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Senate Bill 22 was officially signed by Governor Schwarzenegger, demonstrating his commitment to improving the health of California’s families. The bill contains three key provisions representing important first steps toward building a support system that will help mothers achieve their breastfeeding goals. The provisions include:

• Allowing federal or private monies to be used to expand WIC’s peer counselor program
• Improving Medi-Cal access to breast pumps and other breastfeeding assistance
• Encouraging additional training at hospitals with low breastfeedingrates so more women of all incomes are breastfeeding the first 48 hours after birth

Hopefully, the California legislation will serve as a model for legislation in other states. For more information contact Karen Peters, California Breastfeeding Coaliton or Karen Farley, California WIC.