Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., charged on Friday that President Joe Biden doesn’t have a plan to end the nationwide baby formula shortage.
She made her remarks during a press conference with other House Republican colleagues.
"I've led on this issue since February, and we, as House Republicans, continue to demand answers from the FDA," she said. "And unsurprisingly, when I reached out in February, from my office to the FDA, we received no substantive response.
"Joe Biden simply has no plan. In fact, when Joe Biden's White House was asked about the shortage, they laughed. Shameful. Make no mistake, there is nothing laughable or funny about this crisis.
“As a new mother, I understand personally the severity of this challenge. My son, Sam, is 9 months old. He is formula fed, and even in my trips to the grocery store in upstate New York, the shelves have been fairly empty."
The Associated Press reported that ongoing supply disruptions combined with a recent safety recall have sparked the shortage of formula.
The pandemic led to disruptions in labor, transportation, and raw materials — economy-wide issues that didn't spare the formula industry, according to the news outlet. In addition, the inventory was further squeezed by those who stockpiled during COVID-19 lockdowns.
In February, Abbott Nutrition recalled several major brands of powdered formula and shut down its plant in Sturgis, Michigan, the AP noted.
"There was an article just today about families having to drive hours to access stores that have formula," Stefanik said. "Think about the cost of gas for families on limited income.
"So, today House Republicans are here to push for action from the FDA and the Biden administration, who should have had a plan for this shortage months ago. Instead, bare shelves Biden has continued to pass the buck.
"Think about this: children — babies — have been put to bed hungry while parents are desperately trying to find alternative formulas that are often difficult to procure. This is not a Third-World country. This should never happen in the United States of America."
Jeffrey Rodack ✉
Jeffrey Rodack, who has nearly a half century in news as a senior editor and city editor for national and local publications, has covered politics for Newsmax for nearly seven years.
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