Friday 13 May 2022 10:55 PM Providing baby formula to families crossing southern border is 'morally right,' ... trends now
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki on Friday blasted Republicans who have questioned why baby formula is being shipped to families at the southern border when American families are facing a shortage of powdered infant milk.
She said not only was it the law to provide for children in need but it was also the morally right thing to do.
She hit out after hardline conservative Rep. Elise Stefanik tweeted that the border crisis was to blame for empty shelves.
'It is the law, but we believe that when ... babies are crossing the border with a family member ... that providing them formula is morally right,' said Psaki.
Soon after, former President Donald Trump weighed in with his views on the crisis. He blamed Democrats for focusing on Ukraine.
'The Democrats are sending another $40 billion to Ukraine, yet America's parents are struggling to even feed their children.
'There is a massive formula shortage, but no one is talking about it—it is a national disgrace,' he said in an emailed statement, apparently unaware of wall-to-wall coverage this week.
'It is unthinkable that in the year 2022 American families are unable to get baby formulas for their children.'
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki slapped down Rep. Elise Stefanik's complaint that baby formula was being sent to families at the southern border, saying that it was the law to provide help to arriving children and that it was also the 'morally right' think to do
Stefanik tied baby formula shortages to the crisis at the southern border in her tweet
Noted infant formula expert Donald Trump also weighed in, questioning why the House of Representatives had voted to send another $40 billion in aid to Ukraine while American families were struggling to buy baby formula
The crisis was triggered when Abbott Laboratories recalled a range of baby formula products after complains of bacterial infections.
Supply chain problems exacerbated the impact, leaving about 40 percent of products out of stock across the country, according to Datasembly.
Critics of the Biden administration this week tried to tag the crisis to their hobby horse issue.
'Joe Biden continues to put America LAST by shipping pallets of baby formula to the southern border as American families face empty shelves,' tweeted Stefanik.
'This is unacceptable. American mothers and their babies shouldn’t suffer because of the #BidenBorderCrisis.'
Psaki was asked about the tweet during her final briefing on Friday and wasted no time in slapping it down.
'Let me just give you a little sense of the facts on this one,' said Psaki, deploying full snark mode.
'There's something called the Flores settlement which she may or may not be aware of, that's been in place since 1997.
'It requires adequate food and elsewhere specifies age appropriateness - hence formula for kids under the age of one.
'[Customs and Border Protection] is following the law, that law that has been in place and been followed, by the way by every administration since 1997. So this has been a law in the United States for a quarter century.
Earlier the House Oversight Committee announced it was launching an investigation into the baby formula shortage and demanding records and information from four of the largest manufacturers.
The House Oversight Committee - led by Democratic Rep. Carolyn Maloney of New York (above) - is launching an investigation into the baby formula shortage and demanding records and information from four of the largest manufacturers
Congress is demanding records and information from four of the largest manufacturers of baby forumula amid shortage
GOP Representative Kat Cammack tweeted Thursday outrage over border centers being fully stocked with baby formula while American grocery stores are seeing massive shortages and empty shelves where formula should be
'The national formula shortage poses a threat to the health and economic security of infants and families in communities across the country - particularly those with less income who have historically experienced health inequities, including food insecurity,' Democratic Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney of New York wrote in letters to Abbott Nutrition, Mead Johnson Nutrition, Nestle USA and Perrigo, first obtained by ABC News.
The Oversight committee is the investigative arm of Congress and broad authority to probe a variety of issues.
The panel is looking into the price gouging around infant formula and the steps the companies are taking to address the shortages.
Also, Maloney specifically asked Chris Calamari, chairman of Abbott Nutrition, for information about the recall of its formula after several babies were hospitalized and two died from a rare bacterial infection in some of its product.
Maloney wants answers to her questions, along with a briefing from the companies, by May 26.
Republicans, meanwhile, have sounded the alarm after discovering baby formula is being sent to border facilities while American mothers are facing empty shelves amid massive shortages.
And President Joe Biden's administration is struggling to respond, unable to reassure parents when there will be more formula on empty grocery store shelves and where they can turn to for help.
GOP Representative Kat Cammack tweeted Thursday two images, one showing full shelves of baby formula and food from a processing center at the southern border and another showing empty shelves where baby formula was supposed
