Access to Donor Milk Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6]
Introduced
Summary
Expand access to pasteurized donor human milk and create a federal framework to support and regulate nonprofit donor milk banks. This bill would set safety guidance, fund emergency capacity grants, and run a national awareness campaign.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Donor milk awareness campaign
If enacted, HHS, through the Health Resources and Services Administration, would run a public campaign on the benefits and safety of donor human milk. HHS would distribute educational materials to clinicians, expectant and new parents, WIC participants, and community-based organizations. HHS would be able to work with nonprofit donor milk banks to create and share materials.
State support for donor milk
If enacted, the bill would amend the Child Nutrition Act to include donor human milk activities in promotion and related support. State agencies would be allowed to use certain Child Nutrition Act funds to collect and store donations of unprocessed human milk and to transfer that milk to nonprofit donor human milk banks. This change would let states expand local collection and transfer activities that serve expectant and new parents, including WIC participants.
Emergency grants for milk banks
If enacted, the bill would let HHS award competitive emergency grants to nonprofit donor human milk banks to expand capacity. Grants would be allowed only when HHS finds a major disaster, a public health emergency, a Stafford Act determination, or an urgent supply need. Grants would pay for outreach and awareness (especially for families of high-risk infants), collection, storage, pasteurization, transfer, processing fees, staffing, consumables, and safety equipment. Only nonprofit donor milk banks that show a rapid increase in demand or a shortage would be eligible. The bill would authorize $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 and such sums as necessary after that.
Safety rules for donor milk
If enacted, HHS would hold a public meeting within 180 days to help set minimum safety standards for donor human milk and milk-derived products. HHS would issue draft guidance within 18 months covering collection, pasteurization, storage, handling, testing, and transfer. The Secretary would be required to consider unique donor milk factors, ethical issues, protecting the U.S. supply, and the resources of nonprofit milk banks when making standards.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6]
PA • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Bice, Stephanie I. [R-OK-5]
OK • R
Sponsored 4/28/2026
Salazar
FL • R
Sponsored 4/28/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov