All federal buildings should have facilities for changing babies

We have all walked into a bathroom and seen a parent struggling to
change a child perched precariously atop a sink, or kneeling on the
bathroom floor while trying to stay out of the way of others.  Areas
such as public benches, office floors and even lunch tables are
sometimes used as makeshift baby changing stations when a desperate
parent cannot find a suitable location. The problem for these parents
is that too often there isn’t a suitable location available, forcing
parents to change their children in entirely unsanitary and potentially
dangerous conditions. Not only does this put babies at risk, but it
endangers the health of the baby and caregiver, not to mention the
health of others.

According to Dr. Charles P. Gerba, a microbiologist at the University of Arizona, bathroom sinks and floors are some of the dirtiest surfaces with which we come in contact. Dubbed “Dr. Germ” for his work in domestic and public hygiene, Dr. Gerba has found typical bathroom floors and sinks in public restrooms are teeming with bacteria and are considerably dirtier than toilet seats. For instance, during a test of bathroom surfaces at ABC News, Dr. Gerba found two million bacteria per square inch on the floor, about 200 times the amount found on a sanitary surface.

{mosads}That means every day, parents and children are being exposed to potentially dangerous bacteria, simply because there are not enough readily accessible, safe, clean areas to change babies. These youngest members of our society have underdeveloped immune systems and are more susceptible to bacteria than others. If one child becomes ill or injured due to a lack of adequate changing facilities, it is one too many.

That is why I introduced Bathrooms Accessible to Babies In Every Situation (BABIES) Act, H.R. 4534. This bipartisan legislation provides a simple and cost-effective solution to protect the health and safety of our children and parents. My bill would simply require all federal buildings to have baby-changing facilities available in men’s and women’s bathrooms. If a bathroom is not equipped with a baby-changing station, signs would direct parents to the nearest available facility. Private restrooms, such as those in Members’ offices and government buildings where visitors are not allowed, would be excluded from this requirement.

To put the need for this legislation into perspective, one must look no further than Washington, D.C., and its many public buildings. Our Nation’s capital is a haven for tourists, welcoming approximately 15 million visitors each year, including many families with small children.

Countless families visit their congressional representatives each day, yet there are only four baby-changing stations in the House of Representatives office buildings, according to the architect of the Capitol. This forces many parents to change their babies on the floors of busy restrooms.

The remedy would be relatively inexpensive. The General Services Administration (GSA) estimates that this legislation would affect about 13,000 restrooms nationwide, or around 255 per state. Each of these stations costs about $200 a piece, less than the cost of a hand dryer, according to a University of Michigan-Dearborn proposal. Once installed, upkeep is extremely minimal.

While some might argue the status quo is acceptable, I remember a time when conventional wisdom dictated that car seats were unnecessary. Indeed, when my children were little, very few families had car seats, but now each state mandates their use. High chairs, cribs and other baby accessories are constantly evolving to improve safety and hygiene. I hope one day, baby-changing facilities will also be recognized for their safety and hygienic benefits, and their use will be commonplace.

As a father of three, a grandfather of seven, and a former teacher, the wellbeing and development of our children has always been close to my heart and has always been one of my highest priorities in Congress. Our children’s health and safety is paramount, and I believe it is our duty in Congress to ensure these vulnerable and precious members of our society are protected. My legislation is a simple and cost-effective way of doing just that.

Kildee is Chairman of the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education.