Several members of Congress, especially Democrats facing difficult re-election contests, have urged Mr Biden in recent days to invoke the law to alleviate the shortage of formula. It was not clear how quickly the impact would be felt.
A White House spokesman, speaking on condition of anonymity and without permission to comment on the plan, said it could take time for companies to take advantage of the Defense Department’s offer to supply a formula. But the official added that Mr Biden was determined to do his best to shave even a few days off from the production and distribution of formula.
The White House has announced efforts as it faces aggressive interrogations from Congress. In recent days, lawmakers have announced plans to recall Capitol Hill administration and industry officials to testify, asked Mr. Biden’s team for answers on how the shortage is allowed to develop, and launched investigations into the crisis and Abbott Nutrition, the company. which recalled several of his adapted products after the deaths of at least two babies.
On Wednesday night, the House of Representatives approved bipartisan legislation that would give the federal government emergency powers to expand the types of formulas that can be purchased to benefit from the Special Supplementary Nutrition Program for Women, Babies and Children, known as the WIC. About half of the formula sold in the United States is purchased with WIC benefits, and legislation aims to ensure that these benefits can be used to purchase any available formula.
The measure was expected to pass quickly through the Senate. But a proposal to issue emergency money to the FDA, which passed in the House from 231 to 192 on Wednesday night, faced a more difficult path amid resistance from Republicans, who said it was a blank check for an agency that was not managed to prevent a major crisis. .
In a statement sent to regular lawmakers, Republican leaders accused Democrats of abandoning bipartisan talks and instead proposed legislation “without a plan to actually address the issue, while failing to hold the FDA accountable.”
The WIC measure, by contrast, attracted widespread support, moving from 414 to 9.
“I know what it means not to be able to stretch the milk for the whole month,” said Jahanna Hayes, a Democrat from Connecticut and sponsor of the bill. Ms Hayes, who said she used the benefits of WIC to buy formula, added: “As everything is happening right now, the last thing a family has to worry about is feeding their children.”
Add Comment