• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

House passes bills to combat baby formula shortage

MTAtech said:
One bill provides funds to buy and stock baby formula to be available for low-income women, infants and children in times of shortages.
Click to expand...

The problem now is that nobody can find formula. It isn't that people can't afford to pay for formula.

MTAtech said:
The other bill gives the FDA the infrastructure to inspect and approve domestic and international formula manufacturing companies.
Click to expand...

And how long do you suppose it takes the FDA to do such inspections and approvals?
Here's a suggestion: European countries are pretty strict on this kind of stuff. If it plays in Paris, it'll play in Peoria.
Just import the stuff.
 
Athanasius68 said:
The problem now is that nobody can find formula. It isn't that people can't afford to pay for formula.



And how long do you suppose it takes the FDA to do such inspections and approvals?
Here's a suggestion: European countries are pretty strict on this kind of stuff. If it plays in Paris, it'll play in Peoria.
Just import the stuff.
Click to expand...
The plan is to import formula from Europe.
 
j brown's body said:
"The House passed a pair of bills Wednesday night aimed at combating the nationwide baby formula shortage as Democrats scramble to get more supplies on store shelves. The House voted 414-9 to approve a measure that would allow more formula to be purchased with money from a federal program that aids low-income women, infants and children. In a more partisan 231-192 vote, the House passed a bill that would send $28 million to the Food and Drug Administration to help boost formula supply and prevent future shortages. Only 12 Republicans voted for that measure. Both bills now head to the Senate.

Link

Republicans voting against the bill bashed Biden for not doing more. Just what he, or Congress should do was not remarked upon.
Click to expand...

This isn't a failure of politics. It's a failure of Capitalism. The repeal of anti trust laws in the 1980's, did two things. It allowed companies to buy back their own stocks, which they did in an orgy like fashion, with the tax cuts they were given, and it allowed these companies to merge, which they have also done in an orgy like fashion, which reduced competition, consolidated supply, and created monopolies across the board in everything from energy, banking, media, telecommunications, and yes food, including baby formula.

What is happening in Washington is a farce at best, and criminal at worse. If they were actually going to do anything, that means anything. They would reinstate anti trust laws, make it a crime once again for companies to buy back their own stock, and break up large megacorps to create more competition in the market.

You know, like the Capitalists messiah Adam Smith instructed them in his book Wealth of Nations.

For those who are not fully aware of what true Capitalism is. It is 1000 mom and pop stores. Not Walmart.

It's independent community banks. Not Wells Fargo.

It's 3500 independently owned radio, television, and News Papers. Not four megacorps that own 3500 radio, television stations, and news papers.

Or 4 companies that own all of the baby formula production.
 
MTAtech said:
That's why one of the bills gives FDA the resources to do just that.
Click to expand...

The 'resources'needed ought be fairly simple:
If its approved for sale in Europe, its automatically approved for sale in the USA.
 
It seems odd that the same people hwo want to force a woman to give birth don't want to help them make sure women can't feed their kids.
 
Athanasius68 said:
The 'resources'needed ought be fairly simple:
If its approved for sale in Europe, its automatically approved for sale in the USA.
Click to expand...
May be OK for you but I certainly don't want another country deciding for my country what are acceptable ingredients or processing regulations for our food. There is a problem with labelling too some European countries do not have to indicate all the ingredients on the label which could be problematic for formula if you have a baby with certain dietary restrictions.
 
Bear5131 said:
The government manufactures baby formula, who knew?
Click to expand...
Nah, that funding to FDA was to pay for more inspectors for imported formula.
Basically to speed up the inspections so it gets to shelves faster, stuff like that.

Probably miscellaneous other stuff and a few barrels of the nigh-inevitable metaphorical pork too.
 
Callen said:
May be OK for you but I certainly don't want another country deciding for my country what are acceptable ingredients or processing regulations for our food. There is a problem with labelling too some European countries do not have to indicate all the ingredients on the label which could be problematic for formula if you have a baby with certain dietary restrictions.
Click to expand...

That's fine.
But then understand the limitations of what Biden is proposing.
 
Athanasius68 said:
That's fine.
But then understand the limitations of what Biden is proposing.
Click to expand...
Canada's formula meets FDA standards but Trump put restrictions on importing Canadian produced baby formula in the renegotiated NAFTA deal.
 
Callen said:
Again one would actually have to read the link to understand what "boost supply" meant 😉
Click to expand...

It means the govt will facilitate the US production and import of baby formula. Not that the govt, and not private enterprise, will actually manufacture baby formula. "Boost supply" is not synonymous with "manufacture."
 
Callen said:
Canada's formula meets FDA standards but Trump put restrictions on importing Canadian produced baby formula in the renegotiated NAFTA deal.
Click to expand...
Because prior administration policies affect current administrations. The presidency is not a vacuum.
 
highroller said:
I love it when people say they will criticize their party and yet never do. Really brings out the partisanship in them.
Click to expand...
And even if they do it's very selective. Like some ex Republican who hasn't been in office for 30 years who rapes a kid. Then they'll do it.
 
CaughtInThe said:
And even if they do it's very selective. Like some ex Republican who hasn't been in office for 30 years who rapes a kid. Then they'll do it.
Click to expand...
.......or when a true conservative for many years, who consistently votes conservative chooses to stand on her values and criticize Trump for his role on January 6th.
 
j brown's body said:
"The House passed a pair of bills Wednesday night aimed at combating the nationwide baby formula shortage as Democrats scramble to get more supplies on store shelves. The House voted 414-9 to approve a measure that would allow more formula to be purchased with money from a federal program that aids low-income women, infants and children. In a more partisan 231-192 vote, the House passed a bill that would send $28 million to the Food and Drug Administration to help boost formula supply and prevent future shortages. Only 12 Republicans voted for that measure. Both bills now head to the Senate.

Link

Republicans voting against the bill bashed Biden for not doing more. Just what he, or Congress should do was not remarked upon.
Click to expand...
Can you give a short synopsis of exactly what this law would do increase supply of baby formula?

The above says "allow more formula to be purchased with money from a federal program..." -- well, the issue isn't the availability of money to purchase. The issue is the supply of baby formula. The abbott factory was shut down completely. So, from whom are they going to buy the formula? Where will it be made? Won't they have to open the Abbott factor? If so, isn't that the lead?

How is $28 million to the FDA going to "help boost formula supply?" What will be done with the money that will boost supply? Isn't that a fair question? I mean, it must be more than just "Hey, FDA, here is $28 million. Go out there and boost supply," right? They must have something they plan to actually --- well, what's the word --- oh, yes, -- they must have something they plan to actually "do" in order to boost supply.

The article says "most of the money in the legislation would pay for additional FDA employees, including inspectors who could help approve domestic or international formula manufacturing companies." - oh, so this legislation just hires more government workers, who have to be trained to know what the regulations are and how to inspect manufacturing plants. LOL - that's not a short process - they aren't going to be on the job next week, next month or even this year. That's for 2023.

And, frankly, what is needed is (a) open currently available manufacturing facilities, and (b) if needed, make it easier to import. But, if anyone thinks that imported baby formula is less likely to have a bacteria problem, then they are smoking something.
 
Callen said:
Canada's formula meets FDA standards but Trump put restrictions on importing Canadian produced baby formula in the renegotiated NAFTA deal.
Click to expand...

Nothing the FDA can do about that.
 
Athanasius68 said:
Nothing the FDA can do about that.
Click to expand...
Nope. However, it is just an indicator of all of the things that have contributed to this problem. Prior to the renegotiation, Canadian made formula was readily available in the States.
 
Callen said:
Nope. However, it is just an indicator of all of the things that have contributed to this problem. Prior to the renegotiation, Canadian made formula was readily available in the States.
Click to expand...

The claim however, is that the actions of the House and Mr. Biden will help resolve the problem.
 
Athanasius68 said:
The claim however, is that the actions of the House and Mr. Biden will help resolve the problem.
Click to expand...
Agree my post was slightly OT but was prompted by your comments about foreign formulas and FDA standards. Ours meets FDA standards but cant be imported.
 
CaughtInThe said:
And even if they do it's very selective. Like some ex Republican who hasn't been in office for 30 years who rapes a kid. Then they'll do it.
Click to expand...
But that’s not really a policy disagreement
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom