In light of the current nationwide shortage of formula, Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin, Councilman Anthony D’Esposito and Councilwoman Melissa Miller, along with their colleagues on the Town Board, called upon the federal government to take emergency action to alleviate this severe scarcity via an Executive Order from President Biden invoking powers of the Defense Production Act. Utilizing the Defense Production Act assists the federal government in ramping up creation of critical items in short supply that are deemed important to protecting the public in the event of national emergencies. Supervisor Don Clavin, Councilman Anthony D’Esposito and Councilwoman Melissa Miller were joined in this endeavor by Senior Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby, Councilman Dennis Dunne, Sr., Councilman Thomas Muscarella, Councilman Christopher Carini, Town Clerk Kate Murray and Receiver of Taxes Jeanine C. Driscoll.
“When it comes to the lack of formula available to those requiring it, we have certainly reached a crisis level in this country,” said Clavin. “The scores of families who have young babies or disabled loved ones who utilize formula for their nutritional needs are begging for help, which is why I call on President Biden to mobilize the power of American industry via the Defense Production Act to alleviate this great pain.”
The ongoing dearth of the critically important nutritional source imperils both babies as well as disabled adolescents and adults who are reliant on formula for sustenance. The shortage is tied in part to mass recalls of formula produced by major American formula manufacturers.
“It is clear that more needs to be done by the federal government so that families reliant on formula are not forced to go without this critical food source for their loved ones,” said D’Esposito. “Invoking the Defense Production Act is long overdue at this point, and I call on President Biden to do the right thing for Long Island families and get formula back on the shelves at stores.”
“It is incredibly troubling that families are forced to travel great distances while jumping through various hoops just to purchase formula that is vital to the health of their babies or disabled loved ones,” said Miller. “The invocation of the Defense Production Act would provide the federal government an opportunity to offer palpable assistance to families in need by getting more formula to retailers, and I urge President Biden to sign an Executive Order doing so as soon as possible.”
The Defense Production Act has been utilized for national response efforts in recent years, including during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when the Act was invoked in order to compel American manufacturers to produce masks and other PPE items. The Act provides a key tool in the federal government’s arsenal when responding to national public health emergencies, such as the formula shortage currently imperiling Americans across the country.
“We must utilize all possible pathways available to us as a nation in order to end this critical shortage of formula,” said Senior Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby.
“The federal government has an opportunity now to enable the nation to respond to this horrific shortage and end the suffering of so many Americans,” said Councilman Dennis Dunne, Sr.
“The shortage of formula across the United States poses a serious public health risk which no doubt warrants use of the Defense Production Act by the federal government,” said Councilman Thomas Muscarella.
“Parents and caregivers across the country are calling out in need for immediate relief, and President Biden can provide this assistance by the simple stroke of a pen,” said Councilman Christopher Carini.
“Let it be known that the requests for support from those in need of formula have not fallen on deaf ears here in the Town of Hempstead,” said Clavin. “Residents impacted by this shortage across America’s largest township are in desperate need of support from their federal government, which is why I implore President Biden to do the right thing and invoke the Defense Production Act in order to protect the wellbeing of our fellow Americans.”