Rep. Wilson Votes to Improve Families' Access to Baby Formula

Press Release

Yesterday, Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (FL-24) voted in favor of two bills that will improve families' access to infant formula, ensure every baby has the nutrition they need to live and develop and prevent this crisis from potentially happening again.

The supplemental funding bill (H.R. 7790) provides the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) urgently needed resources to help address the infant formula shortage, increase the number of FDA inspection staff, provide resources for personnel working on formula issues, help the agency stop fraudulent baby formula from entering the marketplace and improve data collection on the formula market.

"Families in South Florida are feeling the pain and stress of the infant formula shortage firsthand. Through this legislation, we are making sure the FDA can put an end to this shortage and ensure families that the formula they're trusting with the nutrition of their children is safe while increasing supply and getting it back on the shelves," said Congresswoman Wilson.

Regrettably, the infant formula shortage has taken an especially dangerous toll on vulnerable women and children who use Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) benefits to purchase formula. In response, Congresswoman Wilson cosponsored the Access to Baby Formula Act (H.R. 7791) which provides flexibility so that low-income families can continue purchasing safe infant formula with their WIC benefits during a crisis, such as a supply chain disruption.

"It is simply unacceptable that for Black and minority mothers, grandmothers, and caretakers who rely on baby formula throughout my district, this crisis is has become frighteningly burdensome. For those who rely on WIC to feed their children -- representing some of our country's most vulnerable families -- this Access to Baby Formula Act will provide much-needed relief. I am proud to cosponsor this legislation and deliver on our promise to ensure families and children get the nutrition they need to stay healthy," stated Congresswoman Wilson.

The Access to Baby Formula Act is particularly important as nearly half of all infant formula is purchased using WIC benefits and 89 percent of WIC participants purchased formula from Abbott Nutrition--the manufacturing plant that closed and spurred the shortage crisis.

In February 2022, an Abbott Nutrition facility recalled several infant formula products (including Similac, Alimentum and EleCare) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning to consumers not to use these recalled products.

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