Republicans in the House of Representatives voted against a bill that would have made it easier for new mothers to breastfeed their babies.

The House of Representatives voted down a bill on October 26th that would have made it easier for new mothers to breastfeed their babies. The Affordable Breastfeeding Promotion Act, introduced by Democratic Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler, was shot down by a vote of 237-187. The bill would have required all federal buildings and facilities to provide nursing mothers with clean, private rooms with access to an electrical outlet and a lock on the door.

The Affordable Breastfeeding Promotion Act was seen as an attempt to increase breastfeeding rates in the United States. It’s no secret that breastfeeding is healthier for both mother and child than formula feeding, but only around half of American mothers are still breastfeeding at six months after giving birth. That number drops even further once children reach one year old.

Breastfeeding rates are lower among low-income families than high-income families, but most women who can’t afford formula will often turn to food banks or other charities for help with buying it. Some states offer free or reduced cost formula through their WIC program (Women Infants and Children), but not all do. Additionally, some states don’t require hospitals to give out information about how much formula they receive from manufacturers so they can better distribute it among needy families.