Today, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) helped lead a call for the Biden Administration to take fast action to address the shortage of baby formula facing New Hampshire families. In a letter signed by 149 members of Congress, Pappas called for a swift whole of government response towards getting baby formula back on shelves and protect the wellbeing of our children.
In the letter, the lawmakers wrote: "Constituents in our districts have been unable to find the formula needed for their children. The federal government must do everything in its power to alleviate product shortages and ensure distribution is equitable and does not trigger scarcity pricing surges. We cannot let product shortages come between the decisions made by parents and pediatricians on how to best feed their children."
The letter urges "around the clock" efforts to resolve shortages, and also calls for a review of any long-standing agency issues that may have led to warning signs being missed which led to this shortage.
Read the full text of the letter here and below:
May 17, 2022
The President
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President,
We write to thank your Administration for actions already undertaken to alleviate shortages of infant and specialty formula products and urge you to continue a whole of government response towards getting products back on the shelf. Constituents in our districts have been unable to find the formula needed for their children. The federal government must do everything in its power to alleviate product shortages and ensure distribution is equitable and does not trigger scarcity pricing surges.
We cannot let product shortages come between the decisions made by parents and pediatricians on how to best feed their children. We are heartened by the actions already taken to address these shortages, including working with manufacturers to increase output, expediting approval on minor manufacturing and import requirements, facilitating more targeted retail distributions, and allowing disbursement of Abbott Nutrition products when medically necessary. We urge your Administration to continue "around the clock" efforts to resolve shortages. Further, as your Administration works to address supply chain vulnerabilities brought to light by the COVID-19 pandemic, we urge you to consider how vital these products are to American families and include them in your Administration's priority efforts to address supply chain resiliency.
Additionally, we ask for a review of any long-standing agency issues that may have led to warning signs being missed prior to these recalls being necessary at a time of global supply chain instability.
We stand ready to work with you to provide whatever resources are needed to get formula back on the shelves and readily available.
Sincerely,
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Original source can be found here.
