Access to Donor Milk Act

Summary#

This bill, the Access to Donor Milk Act of 2026, would support and expand access to pasteurized donor human milk. It defines donor human milk, donor human milk-derived products, donor human milk banks, and nonprofit donor human milk banks. The bill amends the Child Nutrition Act to allow State agencies to use certain funds for collecting and storing unprocessed human milk and for transferring that milk to nonprofit milk banks. It directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to run a public awareness campaign through HRSA, provide educational materials to clinicians, expectant and new parents (including WIC participants), and community groups, and to work with nonprofit milk banks. The bill creates a competitive grant program for nonprofit milk banks to expand emergency capacity when the Secretary or the President determines an emergency or when demand or supply shortages exist. It requires HHS to hold a public meeting within 180 days and to issue draft guidance within 18 months setting minimum safety standards for collection, processing (including pasteurization), storage, handling, screening, and testing of donor milk and donor milk-derived products.

What it means for you#

  • Families and clinicians: The bill would promote information about the benefits and safety of pasteurized donor milk and distribute educational materials to clinicians, expectant and new parents, and community groups. WIC participants are a named focus for outreach.
  • Nonprofit milk banks: Must meet FDA standards and could receive competitive grants for emergency capacity (for example, staffing, equipment, collection, pasteurization, storage, and transfer) when certain emergency or shortage conditions are met.
  • State agencies: Would be allowed to use certain Child Nutrition Act funds for collecting and storing unprocessed human milk and transferring it to nonprofit donor milk banks.
  • HHS and HRSA: Must convene a public meeting and issue draft guidance on minimum safety standards within set timeframes.

Expenses#

  • The bill authorizes $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 and "such sums as may be necessary" for later years to carry out the emergency capacity grant program.
  • Grants are competitive and limited to nonprofit donor human milk banks; funds may be used for collection, storage, pasteurization, transfer, staffing, supplies, equipment, and publicity.
  • No publicly available information on total expected federal costs, estimated budgetary effects, or specific appropriation amounts beyond the FY2026 authorization.

Proponents' View#

The bill's stated purpose is to protect and expand access to pasteurized donor human milk. Provisions in the bill aim to increase safety standards, raise public and clinician awareness, and support nonprofit donor milk banks to ensure supply during emergencies or shortages.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.