A Democratic bill with 3 Republican cosponsors · See all 10 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
H.R. 8964, known as the DONOR Milk Act, aims to improve the safety and regulation of pasteurized donor human milk. The bill officially defines pasteurized donor human milk under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. It removes certain nonprofit exceptions for facilities handling these critical foods. Additionally, the legislation requires annual and unannounced inspections of donor human milk manufacturing facilities. Finally, it authorizes $8,000,000 in grants to help nonprofit entities upgrade equipment and meet food safety requirements.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +7
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?
Enhances safety regulations and inspection requirements for pasteurized donor human milk.
- Scored +6
Would children be better off under this?
Improves the safety and quality of pasteurized donor human milk consumed by infants.
- Scored +4
Does this make it easier to run a small business?
Provides grant funding to help nonprofit facilities upgrade equipment and meet food safety requirements.
The opposite
- Scored -2
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill authorizes $8,000,000 in appropriations for grants to nonprofit donor milk manufacturers.
- Scored -2
Would business owners be better off under this?
Removes certain nonprofit exceptions and increases regulatory compliance burdens for facilities.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Section 2(c) requires the Secretary to conduct annual and unannounced inspections of facilities that manufacture, process, pack, or hold pasteurized donor human milk. This is positive because it holds these facilities accountable and helps ensure the safety of the milk for infants.
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Section 2(d) provides grants to nonprofit entities that manufacture, process, pack, or hold pasteurized donor human milk to assist with equipment upgrades, certifications, and food safety consultations. This is beneficial because it provides financial support to help these organizations meet safety standards.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Section 2(b) removes the nonprofit food establishment exception for facilities that manufacture, process, pack, or hold critical foods like pasteurized donor human milk. This could be considered a burden because facilities that previously qualified as nonprofit exceptions will no longer be exempt from those manufacturer registration requirements.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — Enhances safety regulations and inspection requirements for pasteurized donor human milk. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — Provides grant funding to help nonprofit facilities upgrade equipment and meet food safety requirements. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill authorizes $8,000,000 in appropriations for grants to nonprofit donor milk manufacturers.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would children be better off under this? — Improves the safety and quality of pasteurized donor human milk consumed by infants. Would women be better off under this? — Supports mothers who donate human milk by ensuring safe handling and processing standards. Would business owners be better off under this? — Removes certain nonprofit exceptions and increases regulatory compliance burdens for facilities.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — Implements annual and unannounced federal inspections of donor milk manufacturing facilities. Does this give the federal government more power? — Increases federal oversight and mandatory inspections of donor human milk facilities.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — Ensures safer provision of donor human milk for vulnerable infants.
- 9/3/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/1/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/25/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/23/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/9/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/21/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 5 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Suzanne BonamiciDemocrat · Oregon
Gilbert CisnerosDemocrat · California
Madeleine DeanDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Brian FitzpatrickRepublican · Pennsylvania
Michael LawlerRepublican · New York
Morgan McGarveyDemocrat · Kentucky
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Chris PappasDemocrat · New Hampshire
Lori TrahanDemocrat · Massachusetts
Jefferson Van DrewRepublican · New Jersey