Rep. Hernandez Advocates for New Moms by Demanding More Affordable Access to Breast Pumps

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, is standing up for new mothers in our community by introducing new legislation to cut taxes on the sale of breast pumps.
 
“Right now, new parents are being forced to spend far too much of their hard-earned income on critical medical supplies like breast pumps,” Hernandez said. “Something so fundamental should
never be conditioned on a family’s income. Healthy kids and financially secure parents are the foundation of a stable family and a stronger future for the next generation of Illinoisans. Reducing all the costs associated with raising a family is a priority for me, and this is just the first of many steps I plan to take to do so.”

Hernandez introduced House Bill 5618, which exempts breast pumps and breast pump collection and storage supplies from various state service taxes. This move is in response to massive
insurance industry cutbacks on coverage for breast pumps and the resulting crater in breastfeeding rates. In 2018, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that about 60% of breastfeeding mothers stop the practice earlier than they want to, often citing the cost of pumps as a contributing reason.

“Health insurance giants are, yet again, taking aim at financially vulnerable people,” Hernandez said. “I remain committed to combating predatory pricing so that new mothers and fathers, especially in low-income communities, don’t have to bear the financial burden of big corporations trying to pad their bottom lines.”