Washington – Lawmakers are angry at the disturbing lack of infant formula, but like many things in Congress, the decisions are bigger than the decisions.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ki.) On Wednesday voted in favor of a growing group of Republican lawmakers who criticized President Joe Biden and his administration, whom he called “characteristically lazy and suspended” in their response.
“The administration is faced with this supply shortage,” McConnell said in a statement. “But the Biden administration has been too slow and passive to continue working. Both Republican and Democratic senators have asked for a response from the administration and they haven’t done so.
“The president and his team must quickly take control of the situation and act correctly as mothers, fathers and children of America,” she added.
Formula milk is usually the only main food recommended by doctors for babies under 1 year old, apart from breast milk. For mothers who cannot breastfeed or need to add milk, formula is important. And switching from one type of formula to another can interfere with a baby’s digestion of food, which can interfere with a baby’s sleep and thus be a total disaster for parents, hence the inability to get a familiar brand. it can be a big deal.
Senior Democrats in the House It seems to have been discussed In internal meetings Tuesday, Deficit and other members, particularly Republicans, clarified that they knew the problem.
“Last night, this chamber approved $ 40 billion for Ukraine because American families were left without formula for babies,” Congressman Matt Getz (R-Fla.) Said Wednesday.
The Food and Drug Administration said it worked to supplement infant formula after a major manufacturer announced a recall earlier this year when the FDA warned about dangerous bacterial infections in four infants eating of infant formula.Abbott Nutrition in Sturgis, Michigan. .
Shortages at retailers have limited the number of formulas parents can buy in stores; Many parents have a hard time finding a formula.
“We recognize that many consumers do not have access to the infant formula and essential nutritional foods they are accustomed to and are frustrated with their inability to do so,” said FDA Commissioner Robert Calif. “We do our best to make sure a suitable product is available where and when you need it.”
HuffPost Readers: Have you been struck by the lack of a formula? Tell us – email arthur@huffpost.com. Enter your phone number if you want to be interviewed.
Many more MPs have complained about the shortage, but it is not clear what Congress or the administration can do to immediately alleviate the situation.
On Monday, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki called the shortage a problem for the FDA as a whole, adding that there is There is no “national stock” of infant formula.
Some lawmakers have written letters to the FDA asking them to understand why the agency ordered the closure of the Abbott Nutrition Michigan facility without considering other infant formula deliveries.
“I think we need to understand how we got into the dilemma we currently face and whether the FDA takes this into account when reviewing its actions and how it assesses procurement challenges,” Sen said. Mitt Romney (R-Utah). ) I told HuffPost on Wednesday. “At the same time, there is a security risk.”
Peter Pitts, former FDA associate commissioner and chair of the Center for Public Interest Medicine, said the FDA has no choice but to close the facility.
“Members of Congress are really good at jumping up and down and looking for someone to blame – the truth is, the FDA was forced to close this facility,” Pitts told HuffPost. “No formula is good.”
Congress needs to increase FDA funding to make the agency do more inspections, Pitts said, arguing that a better regulated industry would have higher standards for itself. He also said Biden should appoint a Blue Ribbon Commission to investigate deficiencies in FDA -regulated industries.
Rosa Delauro, Connecticut Democrat who chairs the House Appropriations Committee, Report shared Last month, a whistleblower reported problems at the Sturgis facility, including falsification of records, posting of unverified formulas, and withholding information from the FDA during the 2019 audit.
The government is also actively involved in the formula industry through a special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children, known as WIC, which provides low -income mothers with monthly healthy food vouchers. for infants and children under 5. years. . The WIC administration is required to control the costs of formulas through competitive offers to manufacturers.
Former lawmaker Abby Finkenauer, who is now running for the Democratic candidate to challenge Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley in November, suggested Biden use the Defense Production Act to force him to make more formulas. The White House has not directly addressed the issue and it appears the idea has not yet been transferred to Congress.
Some Democrats focused on the situation just months before the latest wave of lawmakers arrived. Sensors Pete Murray (D-Wash.) And Bob Casey (D-Pa.) Wrote to Abbott Nutrition in February and asked Abbott to respond. Michigan indoor plants.
“It is highly unacceptable that manufacturing conditions allowed the contaminated product to reach children and it took the company months to warn parents and health care workers of this risk,” the senator at the time.
Source: Huffpost
