"Capitalism without competition isn't capitalism; it's exploitation."
~ Joe Biden
The compromise with the G.O.P. for the purpose of preventing as many undernourished babies during the key growth period of
early childhood development, or there would likely be no government subsidy and the G.O.P. would project the blame for the
consequences of that on everyone other than them, was that unless a care providing physician wrote a prescription for a specialized
baby formula variety... say for a baby diagnosed as intolerant of cow's milk, 95 out of 100 babies were only eligible in their state of
residence for baby formula of the lowest contract bidder, re-bid every three years.
2004:
"
Mr. CARTER. Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of S. 2507, Child
Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, which includes language
that I offered to stop infant formula theft.
Stolen infant formula is a major problem throughout the country,
including the State of Texas.
In 2003, international crime rings stole as much as $2.5 million
worth of baby formula a month in Texas, and testimony before Congress
revealed that some of the proceeds may go to fund terrorism.
After being stolen, the formula was stored and sometimes repackaged
with phony expiration dates, then it was sold to small convenience
stores in the United States.
This legislation requires State agencies to license and maintain a
list of infant formula manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and
retailers approved to provide infant formula to vendors.
This section closes a loophole that would allow crime rings to steal
infant formula and resell this formula to retailers, who often are
unaware that the formula was stolen.
This list would include food manufacturers, wholesalers,
distributors, and retailers licensed in the State to distribute infant
formula and food manufacturers registered with the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration that provide infant formula, with vendors required to
purchase infant formula from the list.
The stolen formula is often resold to customers using vouchers from
the federally funded Women, Infants, and Children program.
I want to thank Education and the Workforce Chairman John Boehner and
the Subcommittee on Education Reform Chairman Michael Castle, along
with this staff, Kate Howston and Stephanie Milburn for their important
work on this legislation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I urge that my colleagues support this
important legislation."
In response to scarcity, the Biden Admin. directed states in March to relax this arrangement and reprogram to permit grocers to
accept the same authorization limited to the mandated low bid but likely unavailable, contract baby formula, to actually available
baby formula.