The House passed two emergency spending bills on Wednesday addressing critical nationwide baby formula shortages.
The main legislation—HR 7790 Infant Formula Supplemental Appropriations Act— seeks to provide the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) $28 million in “salaries and expenses” for resolving current and future shortages of baby formula.
HR 7790 will also seek to prevent fraudulent products from entering the domestic market.
The legislation was sponsored by Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.).
With a 231-192 vote mainly along party lines, HR 7790 passed the House following the invocation of the Defense Production Act by President Joe Biden.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) during a press conference on the introduction of legislation to help Americans with the nationwide baby formula shortage at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. on May 17, 2022. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Republicans objected to the bill with House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) claiming that the Democrats’ proposal does not resolve the issue….