Constance C. McDaniel Medically Necessary Infant Formula and Donor Milk Act
May 21, 2026
Introduced: May 21, 2026
May 21, 2026
Introduced: May 21, 2026
Summary
Creates a 3-year test program to give money to certain families to help them buy special infant formula or donor milk for medical reasons.
What problem does this solve?
Some families cannot get help from current programs to buy special formula or donor milk for babies with medical needs. This bill creates a new test program to give money to these families so they can afford the food their babies need.
What does this bill do?
Establishes the Medically Necessary Infant Formula Pilot Program
Creates a 3-year pilot program to give financial help to eligible families for buying special infant formula or donor milk.
Defines who is eligible for assistance
Makes help available to parents of infants with specific medical needs who are not eligible for the WIC program. This includes issues like a mother's inability to breastfeed or an infant's medical condition.
Authorizes program funding
Approves $15 million per year for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 to run the program.
Outlines methods for providing financial help
Allows assistance to be given through vouchers, reimbursements for purchases, or grants to local nonprofit organizations that serve eligible families.
Requires program evaluation and reporting
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to evaluate the program's performance each year and report the findings to Congress.
Who does this affect?
- Parents and guardians of infants with medical needs
- Infants requiring medically necessary formula or donor milk
What is the real world impact?
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Provides a safety net for families
Offers financial help to families who need special, often expensive, infant formula or donor milk for medical reasons but do not qualify for other government aid programs like WIC.
When does this start?
The pilot program will be set up within one year of the bill becoming law and includes several key deadlines.
Program establishment deadline
The Secretary of Health and Human Services must establish the pilot program no later than 1 year after the bill becomes law.
Annual reporting to Congress
The first report on the program's performance is due to Congress within 1 year of the program's start, with reports following every year after.
Program termination
The authority to run the program will end 3 years after the date the bill becomes law.