McMorris Rodgers Leads the Babies Need Formula Now Act

Press Release

Eastern Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) today introduced the Babies Need Formula Now Act to increase the baby formula supply for parents as soon as possible.

In addition to addressing the immediate crisis parents and babies face, this legislation requires more oversight and accountability at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ensure the Biden administration is doing its job -- acting quickly to maintain a healthy and safe supply of formula -- and not wasting resources.

To ensure parents have more choices in the future, it also reduces barriers to innovation for new brands and types of formula to enter the marketplace.

"The baby formula supply crisis is a matter of life and death. Parents must be able to find the formula their baby needs, and they shouldn't have to drive hours paying record-high gas prices only to find more empty shelves," said Rodgers. "For parents, the most important action we can take is to address the immediate supply crisis. We need formula restocked as soon as possible. That's why the Babies Need Formula Now Act will make sure the FDA is using every flexibility for parents to access safe formula, including from abroad. It also holds President Biden and his administration accountable if red tape at the FDA is preventing new formulas from reaching the shelves."

The Babies Need Formula Now Act does the following:

* Increases Supply: The Babies Need More Formula Now Act makes sure the FDA is using every flexibility to import safe baby formula from abroad. It also temporarily lifts restrictions on infant formula to allow parents to order formula from countries that have similar safety standards as the United States.
* Requires the FDA to be Transparent: Just giving the Biden administration more money will not address the immediate crisis or correct how it made these shortages worse. The Babies Need More Formula Now Act adds oversight and accountability to the FDA to make sure it is doing its job and acting quickly to maintain a healthy and safe supply of formula.
* Gives Parents More Choices: To prevent dangerous shortages from happening again, this solution also lifts FDA-imposed barriers that restrict new types and brands of formula from entering the market. It ensures more competition so more formula will reach the shelves and parents have more options to keep their babies fed.
* Enhances Accountability for Recalls: When there is a recall for labeling unrelated to the quality of the product, the FDA needs to consider the impact to the supply of formula before recommending or requiring a recall. The Babies Need More Formula Now Act requires the FDA to notify Congress of recalls and provide a plan to address any supply issues that may result. It requires coordination between the FDA and the manufacturer of the recalled formula to resolve any issues as soon as possible.

Source