To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 275 Front Street in Marietta, Ohio, as the "Veterans Memorial Post Office Building".

Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing an important piece of legislation, the Breastfeeding Promotion Act with my colleagues Ms. Moore, Mr. Levin, Mr. Rangel, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Cicilline, Ms. Lee, Mr. Conyers.

The health benefits of breastfeeding, to both mother and child, are significant. Scientific studies show babies who are breastfed the first six months of life have a greatly reduced risk for acute and chronic disease, yet only ten percent of all infants in the U.S. are breastfed.

A 2001 USDA study found that if just half of the babies in the U.S. were exclusively breastfed for six months (as recommended by the United States Surgeon General), our nation would realize a savings of $3.6 billion in health care costs for the three leading childhood illnesses alone. According to the United States Breastfeeding Committee, if we replicate that study based on current breastfeeding statistics, the savings could reach nearly $11 billion in health care costs for all childhood illnesses in a single year.

I was so proud to partner with Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) to pass into law a provision of our bill, the Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009 (H.R. 2819, S. 1744), in comprehensive health care reform legislation signed by President Obama on March 23, 2010. The provision requires that employers provide breastfeeding employees, who are hourly workers, with ``reasonable break time'' and a private, non-bathroom place to express breast milk during the workday, up until the child's first birthday.

This was a great success but more work needs to be done. Our bill will further encourage and promote breastfeeding by removing common obstacles to breastfeeding and expressing milk in the workplace that many women face. This bill expands the requirement under current law for employers to provide break time to express breast milk, as well as make reasonable efforts to provide a private place for them to do so, to salaried workers in traditional work or office environments.

Public opinion and awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding continue to grow, and the momentum we've recently gained presents the perfect opportunity to build on that progress in achieving our goals.

We urge all of our colleagues to support this important legislation. The health and economic benefits of breastfeeding are overwhelming and public opinion and awareness of these benefits continue to grow. We must ensure that working moms who choose to breastfeed have the support they need to do so.

We urge all of our colleagues to support this important legislation.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to have introduced H.R. 2819, legislation that would name the post office at 275 Front Street in Marietta, Ohio, the Veterans Memorial Post Office.

I want to thank all of my colleagues in the Ohio delegation for their support of this legislation.

In my view, veterans are the one segment of our society that most deserves our sincere gratitude and assistance. I am eternally grateful to the brave men and women who have served our country in the past and for those who still serve her today. While this represents a small recognition of our veterans, dedicating the Marietta Post Office pays tribute to America's heroes and serves as a reminder of their great sacrifices in defense of our freedoms.

In addition to a debt of gratitude, our veterans and their families deserve the care and the benefits and the services they were promised and have earned. It is particularly important that we keep our veterans at the forefront of our minds as so many return home from combat, some returning home with wounds that just a few short years ago they might not have survived. We have a responsibility to ensure that all veterans are receiving the very best of care from the VA, as well as all the assistance necessary for a successful transition back to civilian life.

I thank you for the time, Madam Speaker, to speak on this important measure, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I am also pleased to join my colleagues in the consideration of H.R. 2819, a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 275 Front Street in Marietta, Ohio, as the Veterans Memorial Post Office Building. This legislation recognizes the service of the many men and women from Marietta, Ohio, who have so courageously dedicated their lives to protecting this country.

Every day members of our Nation's military risk their lives to defend the many freedoms Americans enjoy. We must never forget the sacrifices made by these servicemembers and their families. Madam Speaker, we should pass this bill to honor the brave veterans who have given so much to this great country.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, again, what has been said is true. What has been said about veterans and the naming of this post office at 275 Front Street in Marietta, Ohio, could ring true on any day and any time, especially now as we look around the world and we know the things that are going on and the things that may occur, but also looking back on those who currently save our Nation here and abroad, it is a fitting tribute to have the Veterans Memorial Post Office Building in Marietta, Ohio, voted on by this House, supported by this House. Just as those who serve our country deserve that support, this is a visible reminder of that support.

With that, I would urge all Members to support passage of H.R. 2819.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2819) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 275 Front Street in Marietta, Ohio, as the ``Veterans Memorial Post Office Building''.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Madam Speaker, at this point, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Johnson).