Biden Uses Defense Production Act to Address Baby Formula Shortage

President Joe Biden took steps on Wednesday to deal with the nationwide shortage of powdered baby formula.

He used the Defense Production Act to require suppliers to direct resources to baby formula makers before other customers, the White House said in a fact sheet.

"Directing firms to prioritize and allocate the production of key infant formula inputs will help increase production and speed up in supply chains," the fact sheet said.

Biden also launched Operation Fly Formula to allow the departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services to use Department of Defense commercial aircraft to import formula that meets U.S. safety standards. Bypassing regular air freight routes will get formula out faster, the White House said.

"I know parents all across the country are worried about finding enough infant formula to feed their babies — as a parent and as a grandparent, I know just how stressful that is," Biden said in a video on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1527047326476410880

Previously, he had used the Defense Production Act to make and deliver equipment and supplies for COVID protection faster, including N95 masks, gowns, gloves, testing equipment, and other equipment.

Congress also took action to address the formula shortage.

The House of Representatives approved a bipartisan bill that would amend the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 and expand the kinds of formula that can be purchased with benefits from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, known as WIC. The New York Times reported that the Senate is expected to approve the bill.

The House also approved a bill that would send $28 million to help the FDA deal with the baby formula shortage through September 2023. Many Republicans in Congress were skeptical of the bill and the FDA’s actions in dealing with the formula shortage, the Times reported.

Sources:

The White House: "Fact Sheet: President Biden Announces New Actions to Address Infant Formula Shortage."

Twitter: @POTUS, May 18, 2022.

The New York Times: "Biden Invokes Defense Powers in a Bid to Ease Formula Shortage."

U.S. House of Representatives: "Access to Baby Formula Act of 2022," "Infant Formula Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022."

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Cite this: Biden Uses Defense Production Act to Address Baby Formula Shortage - Medscape - May 19, 2022.

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