WASHINGTON – On Saturday, May 21, 2022, the Access to Baby Formula Act, a bill led by Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05), was signed into law by President Joe Biden.

The Access to Formula Act would allow for certain program requirements in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to be waived so families can more easily access the infant formula they need during times of crisis.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the legislation with overwhelming bipartisan support on May 18, 2022, then unanimously passed the Senate by voice vote on May 19, 2022.

“I know firsthand how transformative WIC can be for a family. This vital program provides life-sustaining nutrition at the most crucial stage of development; however, this crisis has revealed the harmful impacts of its limitations. I am happy to see my bill, the Access to Baby Formula Act, signed into law to protect families enrolled in WIC and provide them with urgent relief,” said Congresswoman Hayes. “I stand committed to continuing my work in Congress to address hunger for all affected.”

Bill text can be found here.

 

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Congresswoman Jahana Hayes sits on the Committees on Education & Labor and Agriculture and proudly represents Connecticut’s 5th District. She was a public school teacher in Connecticut for more than 15 years and was recognized in 2016 as the National Teacher of the Year.