Bill Overview
Title: Affordable and Accessible Infant Formula Act
Description: This bill provides through November 14, 2022, duty-free treatment to infant formula. During this time period, articles of infant formula shall not be subject to (1) any additional safeguard duties that may be imposed under subchapter IV of chapter 99 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule; or (2) any other import quotas, tariff-rate quotas, additional duties, or any other duties, fees, exactions, or charges that otherwise would apply to such articles. Importers shall provide the applicable and anticipated tariff classifications for articles of infant formula on applicable customs entry documents.
Sponsors: Rep. Blumenauer, Earl [D-OR-3]
Target Audience
Population: Parents and guardians of infants
Estimated Size: 4000000
- The primary consumers of infant formula are infants, but since they are not directly making purchasing decisions, parents and guardians are more directly impacted.
- Approximately 27% of mothers in the U.S. start by exclusively formula feeding their infants from birth, and a significant proportion of breastfeeding mothers supplement with formula.
- The U.S. population of infants (under 1-year-old) is roughly 3.6 to 4 million annually, many of whom will use formula either exclusively or as a supplement.
- Globally, the market for infant formula is significant, especially in countries with large infant populations and high rates of formula feeding.
Reasoning
- The policy affects parents and guardians of infants who use formula, impacting them economically by potentially lowering costs and increasing formula availability.
- Low to middle-income families will likely see the most benefit as the reduced cost of formula can alleviate part of their financial burdens.
- Families exclusively breastfeeding or using donor milk are unlikely to be impacted by this policy.
- While the policy provides temporary relief, long-term impacts depend on whether the reduction in price translates into reduced overall costs and availability improvements.
- The policy's budget constraints mean there may be geographic variations in benefit, as some areas might see more impact based on local supply and demand.
Simulated Interviews
stay-at-home mother (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could significantly help me manage my tight budget better, especially with formula being a major expense currently.
- I'm hopeful that with tariff-free imports, formula will be more accessible, and I won't have to worry about stockouts in stores anymore.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 3 |
nurse (Houston, TX)
Age: 31 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.5 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I see this policy as a nice add-on, but since our income is comfortable, the impact might be limited for us.
- Having more formula options is certainly reassuring in case of future shortages.
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 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
teacher (Chicago, IL)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm worried about formula costs as I plan to return to work soon after delivery, so this policy is a relief.
- Having stable prices and availability could ease a significant concern for me as a new parent.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 3 |
student (Miami, FL)
Age: 24 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- With our tight financial situation, anything that can reduce formula costs is greatly welcomed.
- I've had to shop between multiple stores looking for formula. Hopefully, this will help.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 2 |
software engineer (New York, NY)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.5 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Financially, we are comfortable, but the peace of mind from having better formula availability is appreciated.
- Any price reduction, though not crucial for us, adds to overall savings.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
business owner (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a busy professional and a new adoptive parent, formula cost and availability have been huge concerns.
- This policy might help mitigate those issues, at least in the short term.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 3 |
freelancer (Seattle, WA)
Age: 33 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.5 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As someone exploring alternatives like donor milk, the policy might not impact me much directly.
- It's good to have more formula options for backup purposes in case my plans don't work out.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 3 |
police officer (San Diego, CA)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Purchasing formula online has been challenging due to costs and delivery issues, so the policy could definitely help us out.
- More availability at lower prices will mean saving money that could go elsewhere.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 3 |
accountant (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Starting fostering while already managing expenses has been tough, so lowering formula costs is a blessing.
- Policy provides immediate relief but curious if extended support exists beyond the timeline.
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 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 3 |
doctor (Boston, MA)
Age: 26 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Despite a high income, student debts make affordability crucial, so any reduction in formula costs helps.
- This policy could slightly ease financial pressure while we're paying off loans.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 3 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $150000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $200000000)
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 temporary, lasting until November 14, 2022, making the economic and fiscal impacts short-term.
- The policy aims to address domestic supply shortages and high prices of infant formula by reducing import costs.
- Market response, such as price adjustments by retailers and wholesalers, will significantly influence the tangible impacts on consumers.