As POTUS Acts to Increase Supply, 192 House Republicans Vote Against Funding to Address Infant Formula Shortage

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 19, 2022
PRESS CONTACT: [email protected]

AS POTUS ACTS TO INCREASE SUPPLY, 192 HOUSE REPUBLICANS VOTE AGAINST FUNDING TO ADDRESS INFANT FORMULA SHORTAGE

President Biden has directed his administration to do everything possible to get safe infant formula to families

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Yesterday, President Biden announced two new, major actions to get more infant formula to the United States and onto store shelves across the country as quickly and safely as possible, invoking the Defense Production Act and launching Operation Fly Formula. The same day, 192 House Republicans voted against $28 million in critical, emergency funding to ensure the FDA has the resources it needs to alleviate the current shortage and prevent future supply challenges.

SHOT: Fox News: House Republicans demand answers from Biden administration on baby formula shortage

CHASER: Newsweek: Full List of 192 House Republicans Who Voted Against FDA Baby Formula Bill

Meanwhile, President Biden and his administration have been working overtime to address the crisis, announcing multiple steps to increase the supply of safe infant formula for families across the country.

Here’s the full rundown of the many actions the Biden-Harris Administration is taking to get safe formula to stores as soon as possible: 

  • Invoking the Defense Production Act will prioritize the production of more infant formula by ensuring manufacturers have the resources needed from suppliers to produce more formula.
  • Operation Fly Formula will speed up the importation of safe formula from abroad by allowing Department of Defense aircraft to pick up formula from overseas and get it to American shelves more quickly.
  • President Biden’s FDA has announced an agreement with Abbott Nutrition detailing next steps to safely reopen Abbott’s Sturgis plant, a major producer of formula.
  • The FDA has also issued guidance allowing major formula manufacturers to safely import formula from overseas.
  • The Biden-Harris Administration is cutting red tape to provide consumers with flexibility on the types of formula that are available to purchase by allowing suppliers and retailers to participate in the WIC program more easily.
  • President Biden has also directed the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general to crack down on price gouging or other unfair market practices aimed at taking advantage of families during this crisis.

###