Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL)
Constance C. McDaniel Medically Necessary Infant Formula and Donor Milk Act
A Democratic bill with 2 Republican cosponsors · See all 4 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
This bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a three-year pilot program called the Medically Necessary Infant Formula Pilot Program. The program aims to provide financial assistance to certain eligible individuals to help them purchase covered infant formula or donor milk. Financial assistance may be provided through vouchers, reimbursements, or grants to local governmental or nonprofit entities. The Secretary is tasked with educating families about the program and conducting annual evaluations of its performance. Results of these evaluations must be reported to Congress annually. The act authorizes up to $15,000,000 for each fiscal year from 2027 through 2031.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +5
Would children be better off under this?
The bill helps ensure infants have access to necessary nutrition through formula or donor milk.
- Scored +5
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
The bill provides financial assistance to help families access medically necessary infant formula and donor milk.
- Scored +4
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The program provides financial assistance to families to cover the costs of medically necessary infant nutrition.
The opposite
- Scored -1
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill authorizes up to $15,000,000 in new annual spending for the pilot program.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Financial Assistance for Formula and Milk: The program provides financial help to specific individuals for purchasing covered infant formula or donor milk (Section 2(a)).
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Flexible Assistance Methods: The Secretary can use various methods to get help to people, such as vouchers, reimbursements, or through local nonprofit and government grants (Section 2(b)).
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Support for Specific Medical Needs: The bill targets individuals facing various challenges, such as postpartum women with an inability to breastfeed due to physical factors, chronic disease, or mental health issues, as well as children with feeding tubes, digestive issues, or allergies (Section 2(e)(4)).
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Program Accessibility: The Secretary is required to take steps to ensure families are informed about the program through consultation with health care providers (Section 2(c)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Limited Duration: The authority for this program is set to terminate three years after the act is enacted, which acts as a sunset provision (Section 2(g)).
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Eligibility Restrictions: To be considered an "eligible individual," one must not be eligible to participate in the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (Section 2(e)(4)(A)).
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.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would children be better off under this? — The bill helps ensure infants have access to necessary nutrition through formula or donor milk. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The program provides financial assistance to families to cover the costs of medically necessary infant nutrition. Would women be better off under this? — The bill supports postpartum women dealing with specific medical, physical, or mental health barriers to breastfeeding. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — The bill assists families whose children have medical conditions such as digestive issues or the need for feeding tubes.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill provides financial assistance to help families access medically necessary infant formula and donor milk.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow the gap between how men and women are treated? — The bill specifically provides support for postpartum women facing breastfeeding challenges due to medical or mental health issues. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill offers direct financial relief to families needing specific nutritional support for infants.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill authorizes up to $15,000,000 in new annual spending for the pilot program.
- 11/9/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 10/9/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/2/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/21/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Valerie FousheeDemocrat · North Carolina
Ashley HinsonRepublican · Iowa
Michael LawlerRepublican · New York
Darren SotoDemocrat · Florida