Oregon Public Broadcasting

The Washington House unanimously passed a bill Tuesday that would protect a mother’s right to breast feed in public.

The bill declares nursing a baby a civil right under Washington state’s laws against discrimination.

Republican Mike Armstrong says the nutritional benefits of breastfeeding babies are well documented and women should not be discouraged from doing it in public.

Mike Armstrong: “What we have to do, I think, is provide the opportunity for women who want to continue to breastfeed, and some of them are going to do it in public and we have to make sure that they are protected and are allowed to do that. It’s a common sense issue and I always shy away from legislating common sense, but sometimes you have to.“

The bill in Olympia now heads to the Senate for further consideration.

Oregon has a similar law.