National WIC Breastfeeding Week
Aug. 1-7, 2026
By the Secretary of Agriculture of the United States of America
A PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS human milk provides unique nutritional and non-nutritional benefits for an infant’s growth and development; reduces the risk of infectious and chronic disease; protects mothers’ and infants’ health; and may reduce the risk of childhood obesity; and
WHEREAS the U.S. Department of Agriculture commits to strengthening strategies to encourage healthy choices, healthy outcomes, and healthy families through the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans; and
WHEREAS the U.S. Department of Agriculture and cooperating state health departments, territories, and Tribal organizations promote and support breastfeeding as the best source of infant nutrition through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and other nutrition assistance programs; and
WHEREAS the U.S. Department of Agriculture empowers mothers to meet their individual breastfeeding goals through WIC Breastfeeding Support resources and the WIC food packages; and
WHEREAS the U.S. Department of Agriculture celebrates WIC local agencies receiving the WIC Breastfeeding Support Award of Excellence for their breastfeeding activities; and
WHEREAS WIC joins professional health organizations and breastfeeding advocates worldwide in celebrating World Breastfeeding Week on Aug. 1–7 of each year to collaboratively raise awareness of the numerous benefits of breastfeeding; to strengthen individual, family, and community support for breastfeeding; to further strategies that promote breastfeeding practices; and to support increased breastfeeding rates;
NOW, THEREFORE, in appreciation of breastfeeding mothers and of all the dedicated volunteers, professionals, communities, and organizations who support their efforts, I, Brooke Rollins, Secretary of Agriculture, do hereby proclaim Aug. 1–7, 2026, as National WIC Breastfeeding Week.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 21st day of July 2026, the two-hundred fifty first year of the Independence of the United States of America.
Brooke L. Rollins
Secretary
U.S. Department of Agriculture