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Dear Commissioner Shulman:
As strong supporters of efforts to improve infant health by making it easier for nursing mothers to breastfeed, we were troubled to learn that the Internal Revenue Service ruled that breastfeeding does not provide enough health benefits to qualify as a medical care expense and, consequently, these expenses are not tax deductible and flexible health spending accounts cannot be used to pay for breast pumps and other breastfeeding supplies.
This decision by the IRS is at odds with the growing body of medical evidence showing that breastfeeding has proven health benefits for both mothers and babies. Extensive medical research has demonstrated that breast milk goes beyond nutrition and contains antibodies, anti-infective agents, and immunoglobulins that prevent disease. This is critically important since a newborn’s immune system is not fully developed and cannot produce these immunological benefits, nor are they available through supplements or infant formulas.
Research studies show that children who are breastfed have decreased risk of asthma and other respiratory illnesses, bacterial and viral infections, ear infections, jaundice, leukemia, type 1 diabetes, obesity, among other ailments. According to a recent Harvard Medical School study, the United States could save $13 billion annually in health-related costs and prevent 900 premature deaths among infants from respiratory illness and other infections if 90 percent of women breastfed exclusively for the first six months.
The American Academy of Pediatrics encourages mothers to breastfeed their infants for at least the first year of a child’s life. However, one major barrier is the high cost of buying or renting a breast pump and related supplies. These tools are essential medical expenses that are vital to improved childhood health and should be tax-deductible and reimbursable through flexible health spending accounts.
Based on these facts, we urge the Internal Revenue Service to reconsider its decision in this matter.
Thank you your consideration.
Congressman Levin
Congressman Serrano
Congressman Grijalva
Congressman Farr
Congresswoman Moore
Congressman Conyers
Congresswoman Baldwin
Congresswoman Maloney
Congressman Blumenauer
Congresswoman Lois Capps
Congresswoman DeLauro
Congresswoman Lee
Congresswoman Christensen
Congressman Kildee
Congresswoman Roybal Allard
Congressman Olver
Congresswoman Norton
Congressman Holt
Congressman Braley
Congressman Loebsack
Congresswoman Matsui
Congresswoman Woolsey
Congressman Stark
Congressman Davis
Congresswoman Wasserman-Schultz
Congressman Engel
Congresswoman McCollum
Congresswoman Bernice Johnson
Congresswoman Lowey
Congresswoman Sanchez
Congresswoman Pingree
Congresswoman DeGette
Congresswoman Schwartz
Congresswoman Kaptur
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