Legislation Grid and Testimony/Advocacy Statement
As a nurse, how often have you thought to yourself, If I had anything to do about it, things would work a little differently? Increasingly, nurses are beginning to realize that they do, in fact, have a role and a voice.
Many nurses encounter daily experiences that motivate them to take on an advocacy role in hopes of impacting policies, laws, or regulations that impact healthcare issues of interest. Of course, doing so means entering the less familiar world of policy and politics. While many nurses do not initially feel prepared to operate in this space effectively, the reward is the opportunity to shape and influence future health policy.
To Prepare:
- Select a bill that has been proposed (not one that has been enacted) using the congressional websites provided in the Learning Resources.
The Assignment: (1- to 2-page Legislation Grid; 1-page Legislation Testimony/Advocacy Statement)
Be sure to add a title page, an introduction, purpose statement, and a conclusion. This is an APA paper.
Part 1: Legislation Grid
Based on the health-related bill (proposed, not enacted) you selected, complete the Legislation Grid Template. Be sure to address the following:
- Determine the legislative intent of the bill you have reviewed.
- Identify the proponents/opponents of the bill.
- Identify the target populations addressed by the bill.
- Where in the process is the bill currently? Is it in hearings or committees?
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Part 2: Legislation Testimony/Advocacy Statement
Based on the health-related bill you selected, develop a 1-page Legislation Testimony/Advocacy Statement that addresses the following:
- Advocate a position for the bill you selected and write testimony in support of your position.
- Describe how you would address the opponent to your position. Be specific and provide examples.
- At least 2 outside resources and 2-3 course specific resources are used.
Rubric Detail
Select Grid View or List View to change the rubric’s layout.
Name: NURS_6050_Module02_Week04_Assignment_Rubric
| Excellent | |
Federal and State Legislation
Part 1: Legislation Grid
Based on the health- related bill you selected, complete the Legislation Grid Template. Be sure to address the following:
|
32 (32%) – 35 (35%)
The response clearly and accurately summarizes in detail the legislative intent of the health- related bill. The response accurately identifies in detail the proponents and opponents of the health-related bill. The response accurately identifies in detail the populations targeted by the health-related bill. The response clearly and thoroughly describes in detail the current status of the health- related bill. |
| Part 2: Legislation Testimony/Advocacy Statement
Based on the health- related bill you selected, develop a 1- page Legislation Testimony/Advocacy Statement that addresses the following:
|
36 (36%) – 40 (40%)
Testimony clearly, accurately, and thoroughly provides statements that fully justifies a position for a health-related bill. Response provides a detailed, thorough, and logical explanation of how to address opponents to the position for the health-related bill and includes one or more clear and accurate supporting examples. |
| References | 10 (10%) – 10 (10%)
Response includes 3 or more course resources and 2 or more outside sources. |
| Written Expression and Formatting—Paragraph Development and Organization Paragraphs make clear points that support well developed ideas, low logically, and demonstrate continuity of ideas. Sentences are carefully focused– neither long and rambling nor short and lacking substance. A clear and comprehensive purpose statement and introduction is provided which delineates all required criteria. | 5 (5%) – 5 (5%)
Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity. A clear and comprehensive purpose statement, introduction, and conclusion is provided which delineates all required criteria. |
| Written Expression and Formatting: English Writing Standards Correct grammar, mechanics, and proper punctuation. | 5 (5%) – 5 (5%)
Uses correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation with no errors. |
| Written Expression and Formatting: The paper follows correct APA format for title page, font, spacing, indentations, parenthetical/in-text citations, and reference list. | 5 (5%) – 5 (5%)
Uses correct APA format wit |
Legislation Comparison grid and Advocacy statement
As a proponent of improved healthcare, I advocate for the well-being of all people in the society, young and old, as well as people from all gender. One of my primary concerns is breastfeeding, which is an essential aspect of improving the lives of toddlers by implementing policies meant to ensure exclusive breastfeeding is one of the most important methods of ensuring babies grow healthy. The enactment of the Break time for nursing mothers’ law in 2010 has been a critical stepping stone to sound debates and policies to expand nursing accommodations to breastfeeding employees not covered by the law. This paper identifies a proposed bill and presents a comparison grid for the Bill. The paper also provides an advocacy statement which denotes my position on the Bill.
| Health-related Bill Name |
The PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act |
| Bill Number | S.1658 |
| Description | PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act was introduced in May 2021 to Congress. The Bill was sponsored by Carolyn B. Maloney and was co-sponsored by representatives from political sides, the democrats and republicans, four from each sect. The Bill seeks to extend protections to nursing mothers who the Fair Labor Standards Act did not cover. |
| Federal or State? | Federal |
| Legislative Intent | The main intention of the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections (PUMP) for Nursing Mothers Act is to ensure adequate breastfeeding support and infrastructural accommodation for nursing mothers. The Act will help increase the rate of breastfeeding, which is critical in determining the health of the babies and increase ng job satisfaction among nursing mothers (Whitley et al., 2019). Current laws with similar intentions include the Fair Labor Standards Act, which has a relatively higher threshold for employers with at least 50 employees. The PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act seeks to include employers with at least 25 employees who will offer nursing mothers at least two years of breastfeeding accommodation to mothers after childbirth. |
| Proponents/ Opponents | Proponents: The Bill has attracted widespread support from several organizations and the democrats and republicans. One organization that has, for instance, pledged support for the Bill is the American Academy of Pediatrics. |
| Opponents: There are no significant opponents | |
| Target Population | Employers and federal organizations with at least 25 employees |
| Status of the Bill (Is it in hearings or committees?) | The Bill was introduced to Congress on 11th May 2021 and has been presented to both houses. The Bill is on the committee stage. |
| General Notes/Comments | The Bill is essential in healthcare because it emphasizes the health of newborns and the psychological well-being of nursing mothers. The Bill also will help improve productivity in the workplace. |
Part 2: Advocacy Statement
I support the Bill “Providing Urgent Maternal Protections (PUMP) for Nursing Mothers Act” due to the various advantages associated with the Bill, both for the nursing mothers, their babies and the employer. Exclusive breasting is an evidence-based practice that has been proven to prevent child mortality and the likelihood of diseases (Uwaezuoke, Eneh & Ndu, 2017). Breast milk is whole food for infants that is important for the nutritional requirements necessary for growth and provides babies with appropriate maternal antibodies for their immunity (Caballero-Flores et al., 2019). Besides, children who are given alternative food sources as opposed to breast milk, including but not limited to cow milk, are at a higher risk of developing some diseases such as diabetes (Shahavandi et al., 2021). Besides, breastfeeding among nursing mothers helps prevent the development of various illnesses, including breast cancer.
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The current provisions of break time laws for breastfeeding mothers are not adequate to solve the challenges affecting breastfeeding mothers. With the current provisions, mothers are provided with breastfeeding facilities for only one year and limit the privileges to employers with at least 50 employees. The fair labour standard act does not cover most nurses, teachers and other workers, which subjects them to workplace harassment. To overcome the challenges, employers must be mandated to provide adequate non-bathroom accommodation and allow for reasonable breaks for nursing mothers (Alb et al., 2017).
Conclusion
Breastfeeding mothers are part of the productive workforce requiring a favorable work environment and conditions. One major challenge facing breastfeeding mothers is the lack of appropriate facilities to breastfeed their babies, as well as inadequate time for breastfeeding. This subjects nursing mothers to undue psychological stress and diseases and also affects the health of their babies. Stressed nursing mothers are likely to perform poorly in their workforce, increasing their the chances of demotion or firing. Therefore, the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act needs to be enacted to safeguard the interest of nursing mothers.
References
Alb, C. H., Theall, K., Jacobs, M. B., & Bales, A. (2017). Awareness of United States’ law for nursing mothers among employers in New Orleans, Louisiana. Women’s Health Issues, 27(1), 14-20.
Caballero-Flores, G., Sakamoto, K., Zeng, M. Y., Wang, Y., Hakim, J., Matus-Acuña, V., … & Núñez, G. (2019). Maternal immunization confers protection to the offspring against an attaching and effacing pathogen through delivery of IgG in breast milk. Cell host & microbe, 25(2), 313-323.
Shahavandi, M., Djafari, F., Sheikhi, L., Sheikhhossein, F., Shahinfar, H., Amini, M. R., … & Shab-Bidar, S. (2021). The association between dairy products consumption with risk of type 1 diabetes mellitus in children: a meta-analysis of observational studies. International Journal of Diabetes in Developing Countries, 41(3), 369-376.
Uwaezuoke, S. N., Eneh, C. I., & Ndu, I. K. (2017). Relationship between exclusive breastfeeding and lower risk of childhood obesity: a narrative review of published evidence. Clinical Medicine Insights: Pediatrics, 11, 1179556517690196.
Whitley, M. D., Ro, A., & Choi, B. (2019). Workplace breastfeeding support and job satisfaction among working mothers in the United States. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 62(8), 716–726. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.22989