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S. 778Senate119th Congress (2025-2027)Passed Senate

Lactation Spaces for Veteran Moms Act

Sponsored by Jacky RosenSen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
Introduced February 27, 2025

AI-Generated Summary

Updated November 24, 2025 at 2:21 AM UTC

The Lactation Spaces for Veteran Moms Act amends Title 38 of the U.S. Code to require every Department of Veterans Affairs medical center to provide a private, accessible lactation space for women veterans and the public. It sets a three‑year deadline for full compliance, with an interim target of 80 % compliance after two years, and mandates annual reporting to Congress on progress and plans.

Key Provisions

  • The Secretary of Veterans Affairs must provide a dedicated lactation space at every VA medical center. A lactation space is a hygienic, private area (not a bathroom) that is shielded from view, free from intrusion, wheelchair‑accessible, equipped with a chair and work surface, easy to locate, clearly signed, and available for women veterans and the public to express breast milk.
  • Within two years of the law’s enactment, at least 80 % of VA medical centers must comply; within three years, all centers must have a compliant lactation space.
  • The law does not grant anyone the right to enter any part of a VA medical center they are not otherwise authorized to enter.
  • The Secretary must submit a report to the Senate and House Veterans’ Affairs Committees within one year of enactment and annually thereafter, listing which centers have or lack lactation spaces and detailing plans and timelines for those that do not.

Legislative Activity

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9 earlier actions
HouseFloor Latest Action

Held at the desk.

November 12, 2025 • 12:10 PM

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

February 27, 2025

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

February 27, 2025

SenateCommittee

Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-86.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

May 21, 2025

SenateCommittee

Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

July 30, 2025

SenateCommittee

Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Moran with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

October 22, 2025

SenateCalendars

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 200.

October 22, 2025

SenateFloor

Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8036; text: CR S8036)

November 9, 2025

SenateFloor

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

November 10, 2025

HouseFloor

Received in the House.

November 12, 2025 • 12:02 PM

HouseFloor

Held at the desk.

November 12, 2025 • 12:10 PM

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about S. 778 on the floor

1 Republican
Jerry Moran
Sen. Jerry MoranR-KS · Nov 9, 2025

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 200, S. 778. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee- reported…

Record

Bill Text

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Engrossed in SenateIssued November 9, 2025

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 778

AN ACT

To amend title 38, United States Code, to require a lactation space in each medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Lactation Spaces for Veteran Moms Act.

2.

Lactation spaces in medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs

(a)

In general

Subchapter II of chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

1720M.

Lactation spaces in medical centers of the Department

(a)

Lactation space required

The Secretary shall ensure that each medical center of the Department contains a lactation space.

(b)

No unauthorized entry

Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize an individual to enter a medical center of the Department or portion thereof that the individual is not otherwise authorized to enter.

(c)

Lactation space defined

In this section, the term lactation space means a hygienic place, other than a bathroom, that—

(1)

is shielded from view;

(2)

is free from intrusion;

(3)

is accessible to disabled individuals (including such individuals who use wheelchairs);

(4)

contains a chair and a working surface;

(5)

is easy to locate;

(6)

is clearly identified with signage; and

(7)

is available for use by women veterans and members of the public to express breast milk.

.

(b)

Clerical amendment

The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item related to section 1720L the following new item:

1720M. Lactation spaces in medical centers of the Department.

.

(c)

Implementation

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that—

(1)

not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, not fewer than 80 percent of medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs are in compliance with section 1720M of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a); and

(2)

not later than three years after such date of enactment, all medical centers of the Department are in compliance with such section.

(d)

Report

(1)

In general

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the progress of the Secretary in meeting the requirements under section 1720M of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), including—

(A)

a list of which medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs currently have a lactation space;

(B)

a list of which medical centers of the Department do not have a lactation space; and

(C)

for each medical center listed under subparagraph (B), a description of actions the Department has taken to design and plan a lactation space and a timeline for such lactation space to be fully functional and open for use within the time periods specified under subsection (c).

(2)

Termination

The Secretary is not required to submit a report under paragraph (1) on or after the date on which the Secretary confirms in a

report submitted under such paragraph that each medical center of the Department contains a lactation space.

Passed the Senate November 9, 2025.

Secretary