Bill Overview
Title: Infant Formula Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022
Description: This bill provides $28 million in emergency supplemental appropriations to address the shortage of infant formula in the United States. Specifically, the bill provides appropriations for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to (1) address the current shortage of FDA-regulated infant formula and certain medical foods in the United States; and (2) prevent future shortages, including by taking the steps that are necessary to prevent fraudulent products from entering the U.S. market.
Sponsors: Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3]
Target Audience
Population: Infants worldwide, particularly those reliant on formula
Estimated Size: 3600000
- The bill addresses the shortage of infant formula, which is a crucial nutritional product for infants, making infants the primary target population.
- Parents and caregivers of infants who rely on formula for infant feeding will also be directly impacted by the availability and safety of the product.
- The bill involves appropriations for the FDA, which is responsible for ensuring the safety and continuous supply of infant formula and certain medical foods.
- By addressing fraudulent products, the bill indirectly benefits the general population by ensuring that only safe and tested nutrition products are available on the market.
Reasoning
- Given the policy's budget and target, the primary beneficiaries are infants dependent on formula, and secondarily, their parents and caregivers. The direct impact of the policy hinges on its ability to alleviate the formula shortage quickly and prevent future crises. However, the policy's $28 million budget implies that its scope, while significant, may not drastically alter long-term market conditions but can provide short-term relief.
- A diverse population including low-income families, single parents, urban and rural residents provides a broad perspective on potential impacts. Additionally, considering individuals not directly reliant on infant formula but who could benefit from the improved market stability and regulatory practices will broaden the understanding.
- Commonness of each person's experience varies based on demographic factors; city dwellers may have more retail access compared to rural environments, and income affects direct dependency on affordable formula.
Simulated Interviews
Retail Manager (New York City, NY)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Worries about running out of formula at the last minute.
- Appreciates the efforts to stabilize formula availability.
- Hopeful that prices will drop or stabilize.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 2 |
Software Engineer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Didn't feel the impact initially but noticed rising formula prices.
- Glad the government is stepping in to control the situation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Nurse (Houston, TX)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Relies heavily on government support; shortage was stressful.
- Relieved by assurances of supply improvement.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 2 |
Farmer (Rural Iowa)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Aware of the issue through local community groups.
- Feels policy will bring peace of mind to many young parents.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Stay-at-home Parent (Chicago, IL)
Age: 26 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy is a good start but needs sustained effort.
- Personal experiences with past shortages were quite distressing.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 1 |
Student (Miami, FL)
Age: 22 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Yet to see the tangible effects of the policy locally.
- Hopes increase in formula supply isn't temporary.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 2 |
Public School Teacher (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy might stabilize volatile supply chains.
- Was anxious about formula being diverted from bigger cities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Freelance Writer (Portland, OR)
Age: 31 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policy seems to be a Band-Aid; concerned about long-term efficacy.
- Translation from policy to store shelves needs to be quicker.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Small Business Owner (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Sees policy as crucial for supply predictability.
- Small businesses excited about improved inventory certainty.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Retired Pharmacist (Boston, MA)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Important that fraudulent products are blocked early.
- Hopeful for regulatory measures to trickle down to medicine sector.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $28000000 (Low: $28000000, High: $28000000)
Year 2: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 3: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The bill is a one-time emergency intervention aimed at addressing a critical shortage and preventing future occurrences.
- The funding is focused on enabling the FDA to manage supply chain issues and enforce market standards against fraudulent entries.
- As this appropriation is emergency and supplemental, it does not establish a new permanent program.