Joni Ernst (R-IA)
Specialized Infant Formula Protection Act
A Republican bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
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
The Specialized Infant Formula Protection Act aims to ensure the continued availability of specialized infant formula regulated by the FDA for preterm babies. The bill addresses concerns regarding procedural gamesmanship and jurisdiction shopping in State courts. It seeks to establish Federal jurisdiction over certain civil actions related to preterm infant formula. By doing so, the Act intends to ensure uniform judicial remedies. This is intended to protect the domestic supply of critical formula for vulnerable infants.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +7
Does this give the federal government more power?
The bill expands federal jurisdiction by granting district courts original jurisdiction over certain civil actions previously handled in state courts.
- Scored +6
Would children be better off under this?
The bill is intended to ensure the supply of specialized formula necessary for the nourishment of preterm infants.
- Scored +6
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
The act seeks to ensure the continued availability of essential specialized formula for preterm infants.
The opposite
- Scored -2
Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?
The bill allows defendants to unilaterally remove cases from state court to federal court, which may affect existing litigation and plaintiffs' chosen forums.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Ensures Uniform Judicial Remedies: By moving cases to Federal courts, the Act intends to ensure that legal remedies are uniform for those affected by preterm infant formula issues (Section 2(b)(4)).
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Protects Domestic Formula Supply: The bill aims to prevent a limited domestic supply of critical preterm infant formula that could result from certain parties engaging in procedural gamesmanship in State courts (Section 2(b)(3)).
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Centralizes Jurisdiction for Civil Actions: District courts would have original jurisdiction over civil actions involving injuries allegedly caused by FDA-regulated preterm infant formula when there is diversity of citizenship (Section 3(e)(1)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Allows Removal of State Court Actions: Any civil action brought in a State court that meets the new Federal jurisdiction requirements can be removed to a district court by any defendant without the consent of all other defendants (Section 4).
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Applies to Existing Litigation: The changes made by this Act apply to any civil action that is already pending, or is filed on or after the date of enactment, regardless of when it was originally filed in State court (Section 5).
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 is intended to ensure the supply of specialized formula necessary for the nourishment of preterm infants. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Ensuring the availability of critical medical supplies like infant formula provides security for vulnerable families.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The act seeks to ensure the continued availability of essential specialized formula for preterm infants.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — The bill aims to protect the domestic supply of critical specialized infant formula by preventing procedural gamesmanship in state courts.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill expands federal jurisdiction by granting district courts original jurisdiction over certain civil actions previously handled in state courts. Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — The bill allows defendants to unilaterally remove cases from state court to federal court, which may affect existing litigation and plaintiffs' chosen forums.
- 6/24/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Introduced in Senate