ALCOAST 242/23 - JUN 2023 UPDATE TO PREGNANCY IN THE COAST GUARD

R 292003Z JUN 23 MID120000266785U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 242/23
SSIC 1000
SUBJ: UPDATE TO PREGNANCY IN THE COAST GUARD
A. Pregnancy in the Coast Guard, COMDTINST 1000.9
B. Coast Guard Civil Rights Manual, COMDTINST M5350.4E
C. Safety and Environmental Health Manual, COMDTINST M5100.47
D. Coast Guard Medical Manual COMDTINST M6000.1
E. Food and Sanitation (FSS) Tactics, Techniques, and
Procedures (TTP)
F. Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (H.R. 2617)
G. Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 201 et seq)
H. Coast Guard Configuration Management Policy, COMDTINST 4130.6C
1. General. The Coast Guard is improving support for nursing mothers
by incorporating policy changes within REFs (A) through (E) guided
by the FY 2023 omnibus appropriations law which included the
Providing Urgent Maternal Protections (PUMP) for Nursing Mothers Act
within REF (F) and amending REF (G). The Coast Guard is also
updating civilian human resource policies to codify existing
practices, guidance and negotiated agreements consistent with the
requirements of REF (F). The Act requires:
    a. A reasonable break time for civilian employees to express
breast milk for the employee's nursing child for one year after the
child's birth; and
    b. A place, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and
free from intrusion from coworkers and the public, which may be used
by an employee to express breast milk.
2. Civilian Employees:
    a. Break Time and Compensation. REF (G) and OPM guidance do not
require agencies to compensate employees who are granted reasonable
break time for expressing breast milk. However, if already providing
employees with paid breaks (for example, 15 minutes in the morning
and 15 minutes in the afternoon), they may use the time to express
breast milk. They must be compensated in the same way other
employees are compensated for the time. The break time shall be
considered hours worked if the employee is not completely relieved
from duty during the entirety of such breaks.
    b. Space Requirements. Units may create or convert a temporary
space for expressing breast milk or make space available when needed
by the nursing employee. The space must not be a bathroom. Any
designated area, temporary or permanent, must be shielded from view
and free from intrusion from co-workers and the public. The location
provided must be functional as a space for expressing breast milk.
If not dedicated to the nursing employee's use, the area must be
available when the employee needs. Units may also create permanent,
dedicated spaces for employees to express breast milk or procure
portable lactation suites.
    c. Unit commanders must ensure compliance with the requirements
of the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act. The annual Civil Rights Command
Checklist in REF (B) will be modified to include the additional
compliance requirements.
3. Military Members: Policy updates in REF (A) are as follows:
    a. Paragraph 7.d.(2)(a). Remove: "If the service member opts to
breastfeed after returning to duty, the member and the command
should communicate to address any concerns or issues." Insert:
"If the servicemember opts to breastfeed after returning to duty,
the member and command will communicate to address any concerns or
issues."
    b. Paragraph 7.d.(2)(b). Remove: "When possible, the commanding
officer or officer in charge should support service members who
desire to breastfeed." Insert: "Unit Commanders, Commanding
Officers, and Officers in Charge must support service members who
breastfeed."
    c. Paragraph 7.d.(2)(b)1. Remove: "Ensure availability of a
private, clean room for expressing breast milk during the workday.
When space is limited, a multi-purpose room (i.e. duty room),
stateroom, or berthing area may be used as long as privacy can be
assured for the time required. The facility shall be as close as
possible to water source for washing hands and rinsing equipment and
equipped with electrical outlets, a table and chair. It is
preferable that this space not be a head unless the head is equipped
with a lounge type area." Insert: "Ensure availability of a private,
clean room with locking capabilities for expressing breast milk
during the workday. The facility will be as close as possible to a
water source for washing hands and rinsing equipment and equipped
with a table, chair, and electrical outlets. Multi-purpose rooms
(i.e. duty room), staterooms, berthing areas, or other similar
living spaces may be used as long as privacy can be assured for
the time required. Heads are not an appropriate location for
expressing breast milk."
    d. Paragraph 7.d.(2)(b)3. Remove: "Through communication between
the supervisor and member, most assignments can accommodate creative
use of time to accomplish mission and accommodate the service
member's desire to breastfeed. Lactating service members should be
allowed a flexible schedule for pumping, within the limits of
mission requirements. Arrangements should be discussed/negotiated
between the service member and her supervisor." Insert:
"Unit Commanders, Commanding Officers, and Officers in Charge will
ensure that nursing mothers have adequate time to express breast
milk and must be aware that each person's situation is unique.
The time required to express breast milk varies and depends on
several factors, including the age of the infant, amount of milk
produced, quality of the pump, and distance the pumping location is
from the workplace, as well as how conveniently located the water
source is from the pumping location."
4. The following policy changes remove barriers for appropriate
breast milk storage in support of nursing mothers:
    a. Sub-paragraph 25.B.4.d.8 is added to REF (C) as follows:
"(8) Breast milk expressed by nursing mothers is considered food.
FSO/FSMs will allocate space in dining facility refrigeration units
to accommodate the storage of nursing mothers' breast milk whenever
refrigeration is necessary and otherwise unavailable. Refer to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for
storing breast milk."
    b. Paragraph 9.A.3.k of REF (D), Remove "…Personal gear and
clothing are not to be stored in the Health Services Department."
Insert: "…Personal gear and clothing are not to be stored in the
Health Services Department without written authorization from the
Independent Duty Health Services Technician (IDHS) or the unit
Medical Officer. Lactation equipment belonging to breast-feeding
crewmembers is an example of personal gear that may be authorized
for storage in medical facilities."
    c. Policy updates in REF (E) are as follows: Add Section 5.6.11
to read: "5.6.11 Storage of Breast Milk Expressed by Breast-Feeding
Mothers:
        (1) 5.6.11.1. "Breast milk expressed by nursing mothers is
considered food and may be stored in dining facility refrigerators
and freezers."
        (2) 5.6.11.2. "The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) provides clear guidelines for breast milk storage. The nursing
mother is required to ensure proper storage in accordance with the
CDC guidelines."
        (3) 5.6.11.3. "Food grade storage containers for use by
nursing mothers should be secured to ensure quality control.
Breast milk packaged in accordance with CDC guidelines should be
placed inside a securable container within the refrigerator or
freezer (e.g., Cambro containers or Carlisle containers)."
        (4) 5.6.11.4. "Cutters considering pursuing the installation
of an additional freezer or refrigerator to support breast milk
storage are advised to engage with their respective product line to
ensure compliance with all applicable configuration management and
technical standards."
5. Cutter configuration changes, such as the installation of
additional refrigerators or freezers of any size, will be discussed
beforehand with the cutter's Surface Force Logistics Center Product
Line, and will be carried out in accordance with REF (H).
6. Units that have an immediate need for resources to comply with
these changes should contact their servicing Regional Support Team
(RST) or Base Senior Field Contracting Officer (SFCO). In the longer
term, the Service will look to source regionally managed
resources/equipment for units to check out on a temporary basis.
7. These changes are effective immediately and will be incorporated
to REFs (A) through (E) within the next year.
8. This message will be cancelled on 28 JUN 2024.
9. Questions regarding Health, Safety & Work-Life should be directed
to your Safety and Environmental Health Officer (SEHO) or visit:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://uscg.sharepoint-mil.us/sites/hswlsc/SafeEvHealth/SitePages/
Contacts.aspx.

10. Questions regarding civilian human resources policy should be
directed to COMDT (CG-122): HQS-DG-lst-CG-122@uscg.mil.
11. Questions regarding changes to military personnel policy should
be directed to COMDT (CG-133): HQSPolicyandStandards@uscg.mil.
12. Dr. D. M. Navarro, Acting Assistant Commandant for Human
Resources (CG-1), sends.
13. Internet release is authorized.