Bill Overview
Title: To improve the infant formula supply chain, and for other purposes.
Description: This bill suspends for 90 days the imposition of duties on the importation of any infant formula product. It also directs the Government Accountability Office to study the feasibility of infant formula distribution centers remaining open for 24 hours a day.
Sponsors: Rep. Mace, Nancy [R-SC-1]
Target Audience
Population: People responsible for infant nutrition and infants reliant on formula worldwide
Estimated Size: 3600000
- The bill is aimed at improving the supply of infant formula, which directly affects infants who require formula as part of their diet.
- Parents and guardians of infants are also impacted, as they are responsible for providing nourishment to their children.
- Infant formula suppliers and manufacturers are stakeholders due to changes in import duties.
- Healthcare providers advising parents on infant nutrition might also see changes in supply or costs.
Reasoning
- The $25,000,000 budget over 10 years needs careful consideration for maximizing impact given the high demand for infant formula and the limited budget.
- The direct beneficiaries will likely be parents or guardians of infants who rely on formula, especially those affected by economic or supply chain disruptions.
- Infant formula manufacturers and importers might see changes due to the duty suspension, impacting their strategies differently based on their reliance on imports.
- Healthcare providers may see indirect effects depending on changes in supply stability, which could impact their advice to parents regarding infant nutrition.
Simulated Interviews
Nurse (New York, NY)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.5 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The temporary suspension of duties might help in the short term, but I am unsure about its long-term sustainability.
- Access to formula is crucial, especially for families like mine who rely on it.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Stay-at-home dad (Austin, TX)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.25 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could ease financial pressure due to formula costs.
- 24-hour centers would be extremely helpful as we're running low on formula often.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Pediatrician (Chicago, IL)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- A feasibility study is necessary, but localizing solutions might be better than blanket policies.
- Cost savings on formula could indirectly enhance health outcomes for some families.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Infant Formula Supplier (Miami, FL)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could boost short-term sales but might disrupt pricing structures in the future.
- The impact on supply chain logistics needs detailed analysis.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 7 |
Single parent (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.5 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Reducing formula expenses would help me save and meet other daily needs.
- Accessibility to formula around the clock would be a significant relief.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
Public Health Researcher (Boston, MA)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Evaluating long-term policy beyond the 90 days is crucial for sustained improvements.
- Additional program funding would enhance community health outcomes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Grocery Store Manager (Seattle, WA)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.75 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The duty suspension may help with stock issues for a short time.
- 24-hour centers seem efficient, but might not reflect consumer habits everywhere.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 6 |
Economist (Denver, CO)
Age: 50 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The suspension of duties is a fascinating case for studying short-term economic fluctuations.
- Its long-term effect might be negligible unless paired with sustainable policies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Student (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 25 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Affordability is a big concern; any savings would be helpful.
- 24-hour access seems more relevant to urban settings but is valuable.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Finance Analyst (Houston, TX)
Age: 31 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The short-term policy seems beneficial, but longer-term systematic changes are preferable.
- Understanding market dynamics is key to predicting policy success.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $25000000 (Low: $20000000, High: $30000000)
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 impact on supply chain improvement is contingent on other factors like global supply and logistics, beyond just suspending duties.
- The 90-day duty suspension might not be sufficient to address any major disruptions in the supply chain sustainably.
- Immediate relief for infant formula costs can benefit low-income families directly reliant on these products.