Whereas the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that breastfeeding continue for at least 12 months after the birth of a baby and for as long as the mother and baby desire; Whereas the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action has designated the first week of August as World Breast­feeding Week , and the United States Breast­feed­ing Committee has designated August as National Breast­feed­ing Month ; Whereas National Breastfeeding Month focuses on how data and measurement can be used to build and reinforce the connections between breastfeeding and a broad spectrum of other health topics and initiatives; Whereas World Breastfeeding Week and National Breast­feed­ing Month provide important opportunities to address barriers to breastfeeding faced by families across the United States; Whereas, according to the 2016 Breastfeeding Report Card of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 81.1 percent of mothers in the United States, or about 4 out of every 5 mothers in the United States, start breastfeeding their babies at the birth of their baby; Whereas by the end of 6 months after the birth of a baby, breastfeeding rates for mothers in the United States fall to 51.8 percent, and only 22.3 percent of babies in the United States are exclusively breastfed at 6 months of age; Whereas 2 of every 3 mothers report that they are unable to reach their personal breastfeeding goals; Whereas there are substantial racial and ethnic disparities in breastfeeding initiation and duration; Whereas, in 2014, 85.7 percent of non-Hispanic White infants were breastfed, as compared to— (1) 68.0 percent of non-Hispanic Black infants; and (2) 79.5 percent of non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native infants; Whereas the Healthy People 2020 objectives for breast­feed­ing are that— (1) 82 percent of babies are breastfed at some time; (2) 61 percent of babies continue to be breastfed at 6 months; and (3) 34 percent of babies continue to be breastfed at 1 year