Democrats in the House of Representatives on May 17 unveiled a $28 million bill aimed at addressing ongoing shortages of baby formula across the United States.
Over the past few weeks, parents across the country have found supermarket and grocery store shelves bare of any baby formula, a necessity for many mothers who don’t breastfeed their children.
Though the White House and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have attempted to curtail the shortages, photos have continued to circulate on the internet showing whole aisles empty of baby formula.
On May 16, the FDA and Abbott, one of the largest producers of baby formula in the United States, reached a deal that would allow Abbott to reopen a currently-closed baby formula production plant. The plant was shuttered in February after several infants died from formula produced at the plant.
In addition, President Joe Biden and the FDA have taken steps to allow for more imports of foreign-produced baby formula to enter the country.
“The FDA expects that the measures and steps it’s taking with infant formula manufacturers and others will mean more and more supply is on the way or on store shelves moving forward,” FDA Commissioner Robert Califf told reporters.
Now, Democrats in the House have introduced the $28 million legislation to further reduce the shortages across the nation.
Specifically, the funds in the bill, according to House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), would help to restore a steady supply of baby formula consistent with existing FDA standards.
The funds would be used to increase staffing at the FDA with a targeted focus on boosting inspections to help more formula enter the market and to prevent fraudulent or subpar products from making it to grocery store shelves, among other appropriations.
“The stories of mothers and fathers struggling to find formula and the images of empty store shelves are heartbreaking,” DeLauro said. “Parents and caretakers across the country cannot wait. They need our support now.”
Following the decision by Abbott Nutrition—one of the largest and only producers of baby formula in the United States—to recall large amounts of baby formula in February over safety concerns, supply decreased dramatically.
Though the deal between Abbott and the FDA would allow Abbott to resume production of baby formula, Abbott has said that it will take eight to 10 weeks before the formula hits store shelves.
On May 13, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) referenced the upcoming bill during a press conference, suggesting that the plan has her support.
The House will likely consider the spending bill later in the week, as Congress is set to begin a two-week recess starting next week.
In the Senate, where all legislation needs at least 60 votes to come to the floor for a simple majority vote, it will likely need the support of at least 10 GOP senators.
“The U.S. shouldn’t have to rely on other countries to supply our baby formula,” Blackburn wrote. “President Biden must address this immediately by creating an Operation Warp Speed for formula.”
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) also called for bolder action from the federal government.
