Blumenauer-DelBene Formula Act Passes in the House, Moves to Senate

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, legislation introduced by Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Suzan DelBene (WA-01) in response to critical infant formula shortages nationwide passed in the U.S. House of Representatives. As the United States faces a worsening infant formula shortage, the Food and Drug Administration has allowed formula to be imported from around the world. Substantial tariffs are placed on formula imported from countries without a Free Trade Agreement, increasing the consumer cost of formula by 27% on average.

The Formula Act would temporarily suspend tariffs on imported infant formula until December 31, 2022 to lower the cost of formula at a time when working families and single parents are struggling.

“Suspending tariffs on the importation of infant formula and relieving parents of steep price increases is a critical step to ending the infant formula shortage,” said Congressman Earl Blumenauer, Chair of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade. “This crisis requires a whole of government response. The Biden Administration has taken important steps to increase supply and I applaud the FDA’s actions to import more formula. Now Congress must act to temporarily remove tariff barriers so families can access affordable formula.”

“The baby formula crisis underscores the fragility of our supply chains when there is intense industry consolidation. Washington state in particular has felt the brunt of the formula shortage with parents facing empty shelves earlier and more acutely than other states. Parents should never struggle to feed their kids,” said Congresswoman DelBene. “This legislation will help alleviate this crisis by lowering the price of imported baby formula from safe and trusted partners abroad while our domestic production catches up.”