Washington, D.C. – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) in conjunction with Sens. Mike Braun (R-IN), Todd Young (R-IN), and Bob Menendez (D-NJ), spearheaded efforts to pass the Bulk Infant Formula to Retail Shelves Act to further ease the infant formula shortage in the United States. The bill passed the House on the suspension calendar and is now headed to the President’s desk for signature.

 

The shutdown of the Abbott plant resulted in a nationwide formula shortage and highlighted significant problems in our regulatory process. In May, reports showed that the national out-of-stock rate jumped to 74%. While reports show the stock rate has improved, many retailers are still limiting how much formula families can buy.

 

In July, Sen. Lee’s FORMULA Act was signed into law by President Biden. Sen. Lee’s legislation temporarily suspended the tariff for imported formulas. Formula companies have communicated this tariff relief played a massive role in their ability to bring more formula to the United States.

 

The Bulk Infant Formula to Retail Shelves Act continues the progress of the FORMULA Act by temporarily waiving tariffs on infant formula base powder. This bill will help domestic manufacturers increase their production, thus further easing the formula crisis in the United States.

 

Of the bill, Senate leads Lee, Braun, Young, and Menendez said, “We've made significant progress in alleviating the American formula crisis, but there's still work to do. The Bulk Infant Formula to Retail Shelves Act targets another critical component of formula availability by temporarily waiving tariffs on infant formula base powder. This bill will help domestic manufacturers increase their formula production, and ensuring that American babies don't go unfed.”

 

Of the bill, House leads DelBene, Blumenauer, Smith, Larson, Kildee, and Ferguson said, “The passage of this legislation today is a huge win for families and will be a powerful tool in addressing the ongoing baby formula shortage. This measure, combined with the Formula Act that Congress approved in July, will help get more safe, affordable formula on store shelves and increase domestic production capacity. We thank our colleagues in the House and Senate for their overwhelming bipartisan support on this measure. This shows how we can put families first and show Americans governance can work for them.”

 

For full text of the bill, click HERE.