May 13, 2022

Congressman Castro Urges Biden Administration to Invoke Defense Production Act to Resolve Nation’s Infant Formula Shortage and Slams Fearmongering from Governor Abbott

SAN ANTONIO — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) issued the following statement on the urgent need to address the nation’s infant formula shortage:

“As the father of a newborn and the representative for thousands of San Antonio families who rely on infant formula, fixing this formula shortage is my most urgent priority. I appreciate the steps the Biden administration is taking to resolve this crisis, including increasing formula imports, working with states to make sure low-income WIC recipients can use their benefits to buy the formula that is available, and cracking down on price gouging. Next week, the House is expected to vote on an emergency bill to address this issue, and I hope our colleagues in the Senate will move quickly to do the same. I urge the Biden administration to use all tools at their disposal — including invoking the Defense Production Act — to increase manufacturing and get infant formula back on shelves.

“During this time of crisis, leaders should be putting partisanship aside to help families in need. Instead, some elected officials — including Texas Governor Greg Abbott — are using this formula shortage as another opportunity to attack immigrants. As they well know, the federal government is legally and morally required to feed migrant children in U.S. custody. Migrant children are not causing this formula shortage. Attempts by politicians to blame migrants for this crisis are callous and shameful.”

Background:

The Defense Production Act allows the president to direct U.S. manufacturers to prioritize production of critically needed goods. In recent years, President Trump and President Biden used the Defense Production Act to accelerate the production of personal protective equipment, vaccines, and other resources in response to the pandemic. 

Recent estimates show that San Antonio has the highest formula out-of-stock rate among major U.S. metropolitan areas. For more information, click here.