A Resolution honoring the 10th anniversary of the Mid-Atlantic Mothers' Milk Bank located in Allegheny County.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Michele Brooks and 10 co-sponsors

Pennsylvania formally recognizes the Mid-Atlantic Mothers’ Milk Bank for providing pasteurized donor milk to medically vulnerable infants, supporting NICUs and research.

Referred to Rules & Executive Nominations

Summary of Bill: SR 346 (2025-2026, Pennsylvania)

Main purpose

Honoring the 10th anniversary of the Mid-Atlantic Mothers' Milk Bank, located in Allegheny County, and recognizing its role as critical infrastructure in providing pasteurized donor human milk to medically compromised infants across Pennsylvania.

Key provisions and changes

Formal recognition by the Pennsylvania Senate of the Mid-Atlantic Mothers' Milk Bank’s decade of operation (since its founding in January 2016).

Documentation of the milk bank’s accreditation, licensing, and regulatory framework:

Accredited by the Human Milk Banking Association of North America to process and deliver donor milk.
Licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Health under Act 7 of 2020, known as the Keystone Mothers' Milk Bank Act.

Acknowledgment of the milk bank’s operational impact:

Donor milk is used when a mother’s own milk is unavailable or insufficient.
Donor milk is pasteurized, tested for contaminants, frozen for storage and shipping to NICUs and outpatient infants.
Recovery of health benefits for medically vulnerable infants, including those who are preterm or have low birth weight or other conditions.

Recognition of expanded use and demand:

Donor milk distribution supports nearly 40,000 ounces per month to more than 82 hospital units and numerous outpatient recipients.
A 700% increase in production since 2016.

Notable programs and advocacy:

The milk bank advocated for the passage of Act 32 of 2023 (Owen’s Law), expanding access to donor milk for medically compromised infants on Medical Assistance.

Institutional contributions:

The milk bank operates the Human Milk Science Institute and Biobank to support research by providing de-identified milk samples and data to researchers and supporting in-house research.
Development of manufacturing and operational techniques that have influenced milk bank equipment and processes nationally (including suppliers in southwestern Pennsylvania).

Who/what would be affected

Infants in Pennsylvania who require donor milk when their mother’s milk is unavailable or insufficient.

Hospitals and NICUs across the Commonwealth that rely on pasteurized donor milk for medically vulnerable infants.

Families of medically compromised infants, particularly those with access needs covered by Medical Assistance (per Owen’s Law advocacy).

The Mid-Atlantic Mothers' Milk Bank as an organization, with recognition of its role as essential health infrastructure.

Broader public health and newborn nutrition ecosystems through the bank’s research initiatives (Human Milk Science Institute and Biobank).

Procedural and timeline aspects

This is a Senate Resolution (SR), a commemorative measure rather than substantive statutory changes.

Introduced and referred on June 25, 2026, to the Rules and Executive Nominations Committee.

No fiscal implications or enactment of new regulations are included; the resolution serves to honor and acknowledge the milk bank’s anniversary and impact.

Overall impact

Provides formal statewide recognition of a key neonatal nutrition infrastructure.

Highlights the milk bank’s contributions to infant health outcomes, medical assistance access, and research collaboration.

Aims to raise public awareness of donor milk programs and their role in reducing mortality and hospital stays for vulnerable infants.