A Republican bill with 5 Republican cosponsors · See all 5 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, known as the "FORMULA Act of 2026," seeks to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. It directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish maximum permissible levels for contaminants found in infant formula. The Secretary must consider factors such as health impacts on infant neurodevelopment and the bioaccumulative nature of contaminants. Additionally, the bill requires manufacturers to conduct testing and maintain specific records. The Secretary is also required to submit an annual report to Congress regarding violations and contaminant concentrations.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Protection of Infant Health: The Secretary is directed to establish maximum levels for contaminants by considering the cumulative health impacts of low-level exposure on infant neurodevelopment (Section 2(b)(2)(3)(A)).
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Enhanced Safety Standards: The bill requires the Secretary to ensure contaminant levels are as close to the maximum contaminant level goal as possible using the best available technology and treatment techniques (Section 2(b)(2)(2)).
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Increased Transparency: The Secretary must include a list of manufacturers found in violation of contaminant levels and the specific concentrations of contaminants detected during routine surveillance in an annual report to Congress (Section 2(b)(2)(6)).
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Accountability through Testing: Manufacturers will be required to conduct testing to ensure they are complying with the established maximum permissible contaminant levels (Section 2(b)(2)(4)(A)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Financial Burden on Manufacturers: In prescribing regulations for contaminant levels, the Secretary is instructed to take cost into consideration (Section 2(b)(2)(2)).
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Administrative Requirements for Manufacturers: Manufacturers are required to conduct testing, maintain records for at least 2 years after the shelf life of the formula expires, and make those records available to the Secretary upon request (Section 2(b)(2)(4)).
- 9/1/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 8/31/2026
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- 7/20/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Earl CarterRepublican · Georgia
Harriet HagemanRepublican · Wyoming
Mike HaridopolosRepublican · Florida
Young KimRepublican · California
W. SteubeRepublican · Florida