Rep. Aguilar Addresses National Infant Formula Shortage
WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, Rep. Pete Aguilar voted for two pieces of legislation addressing the infant formula shortage across the country. H.R. 7790 provides the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with $28 million in emergency funding to shore up the infant formula supply and prevent a shortage of this kind from ever happening again. The Access to Baby Formula Act grants the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) emergency authority to address supply chain disruptions. Both bills will help working families get the formula they need to keep their infant children healthy.
“As a parent, I understand the pain felt by those who are struggling to find formula to feed their infant children during this difficult time,” Rep. Aguilar said. “That’s why we are taking decisive steps to not only resolve this crisis in the short-term but implement long-term fixes so that this never happens again, regardless of the supply chain constraints we are facing as a result of the global pandemic.”
The $28 million in emergency funding for the FDA ensures that the existing baby formula supply is safe and back on supermarket shelves while providing the FDA with the resources to prevent fraudulent products from being placed on shelves in the first place. The funding also strengthens the FDA workforce focused on formula issues and increases inspection staff.
The Access to Baby Formula Act will ensure that families can feed their newborn babies by enabling the federal government to relax non-safety-related regulations during times of supply shortages. The legislation also ensures that WIC participants are protected during product recalls.
The Biden Administration yesterday invoked the Defense Production Act to increase formula supply and directed federal agencies to use Defense Department planes to speed up shipments from overseas.
Rep. Aguilar serves as Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus and as a member of the House Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on House Administration and the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the US Capitol.
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