House will take action on baby formula shortage, Pelosi says

WASHINGTON - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Sunday the House will consider two pieces of legislation to ease the baby formula shortage.

Pelosi told CNN that Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va., chair of the Education and Labor Committee, has a bill to alleviate some issues connected to how people can purchase formula.

His bill would "loosen some of the red tape," she said, pointing out that half of the formula is bought by WIC recipients.

Parents in crisis: Baby formula shortage costing parents: 'It's a desperate situation for many families'

Pelosi told ABC News that Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., is putting together an appropriations bill that would allow the U.S. to purchase formula from overseas. She noted said Mexico, Chile, Ireland and the Netherlands have a formula supply on hand that may be immediately available.

"We must do something as quickly as possible," Pelosi said on ABC's "This Week with George Stephanopoulos."

What can Biden do?: White House moves to curb baby formula shortage but says unsure when parents could see relief

Last week, the White House was said to be exploring use of the Defense Production Act to compel more formula manufacturing. However, Pelosi said she does not think the Defense Production Act, as enacted, can be used for that.

Republicans on Thursday slammed the Biden administration and the Democrats for the shortage of baby formula, and Rep. Cathy McMorris Rogers of Washington state, called the crisis " a matter of life or death."

The White House later Thursday announced additional steps it will take to solve the issue of baby formula shortage, which includes increasing imports.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: House bills look to ease baby formula shortage, Pelosi says