Today, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), voted to pass the Access to Baby Formula Act and the Infant Formula Supplemental Appropriations Act, legislation that will increase access to baby formula and address the ongoing formula shortages.
The Infant Formula Supplemental Appropriations Act will provide $28 million in emergency funding to give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the resources to address the urgent infant formula shortage and help prevent it from ever happening again.
The Access to Baby Formula Act, which Rep. Pappas is co-sponsoring, will grant the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) the authority to waive certain requirements so that vulnerable families can continue purchasing safe infant formula with their WIC benefits during extenuating circumstances, such as a public health emergency or supply chain disruption. The bill will also ensure that WIC participants are better protected during a product recall.
"The legislation I voted to pass in the House today will directly address the infant formula shortage facing American families, and I'm pleased that the House was able to come together on a bipartisan basis to pass badly-needed relief," said Congressman Chris Pappas. "But it is clear that more is needed. That is why I repeatedly called on the President to invoke the Defense Production Act to increase formula supply, and I'm encouraged he has heeded those calls. I will continue to urge the Biden Administration to take more action to help get more formula to families in New Hampshire and across the country. I remain committed to ensuring that we overcome these challenges, and I will always fight for the health and wellbeing of New Hampshire's children and families."
Following Rep. Pappas's advocacy, including helping introduce bipartisan legislation, President Biden invoked the Defense Production Act to increase formula supply. Pappas has also co-sponsored several pieces of legislation and has called for more action from the Biden Administration.
On Tuesday, Pappas 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 protecting the wellbeing of our children.
Pappas is also a co-sponsor of the Emergency Infant Formula Act, which would give the President the authority, during periods of shortage, to specify that certain baby formulas may be imported and sold in the U.S. This applies only to formula legally sold in the E.U., Canada, the U.K., and Japan.
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