PA State Capitol boasts new nursing facility
Rep. Jennifer M. O'Mara September 30, 2026 | 1:59 PM
HARRISBURG, Sept. 30 – Nursing mothers visiting the Pennsylvania State Capitol Complex can now breastfeed or pump in a clean, safe, and accessible nursing station, thanks to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, the PA Department of General Services, and the Shapiro Administration.
State Rep. Leanne Krueger, D-Delaware, unveiled the new nursing pod this afternoon following a news conference in the Capitol's East Wing Rotunda.
"My colleagues and I have been working toward a more accessible, welcoming, and supportive Capitol experience for all families who come to see our historic building," said Krueger. "Nursing can be a challenging experience for many mothers because of the difficulties of finding adequate facilities. We want mothers who need to nurse or to use breast pumps to know that when they come to our Capitol, they can fully enjoy their time here without worrying about where they can go to take care of their and their baby's needs."
The new nursing pod is manufactured by Spaceworx as MomSpace ADA and features common amenities needed to comfortably nurse or pump, including an electrical outlet and USB charging port, and shelves. It is also wheelchair-accessible to ensure that moms of all abilities can use it. It will not only be open to visitors to the Capitol, but also to state employees who need a quiet, dedicated place to pump when they return to work.
Krueger was joined in celebrating today's ribbon cutting by her colleagues and fellow nursing advocates, state Reps. Jennifer O'Mara and La'Tasha D. Mayes, and House Speaker Joanna McClinton.
"For years, I've had lobbyists and advocates pumping in my office because the Capitol lacked a dedicated space for them," said O'Mara, D-Delaware. "That's what led me to advocating for this and I'm grateful to the state Department of General Services for providing this new publicly accessible nursing pod at the State Capitol Complex. Pennsylvania moms deserve better than my conference room and I'm thrilled that we can now offer them what they deserve."
"Today's ribbon cutting is more than just opening a new nursing pod. It is about creating safe, hygienic, and intentional spaces for moms and babies. It represents the kind of advocacy that truly makes a difference as legislators who share our lived experiences as moms and stakeholders who come to the Capitol and no longer have to worry about where they will breastfeed," said Mayes, D-Allegheny. "The dedication to supporting moms and nursing parents has helped make this pod possible: a space where comfort and privacy are treated as essentials, not luxuries. This nursing pod is a reminder that when we create environments built on compassion, we strengthen families within the Capitol and across our Commonwealth."
"Our Capitol welcomes thousands of women every year to advocate on behalf of an issue, tour our beautiful complex, or meet with their state lawmaker. Now those women will have a private, safe, comfortable place to feed their child or pump breast milk," said McClinton, D-Phila./Delaware. "I am proud that the State House partnered with Governor Josh Shapiro to ensure our Capitol is accessible and responsive to the people we serve."