H.R. 2300

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To ensure national uniformity with respect to certain requirements relating to preterm infant formula, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · March 24, 2025 · Sponsor: Mrs. Harshbarger · Committee: Committee on Energy and Commerce

Table of contents

• H.R. 2300
  • SEC. 1. Preterm infant formula

SEC. 1. Preterm infant formula

• (a) Study
  • (1) In general
    • The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, shall study—
      • the availability of preterm infant formula in the United States;
      • Federal and State laws, regulations, orders, and requirements, including under State common law, that relate to preterm infant formula, including with respect to—
        • (i) the design, development, clinical testing or investigation, formulation, manufacture, distribution, sale, donation, purchase, marketing, promotion, packaging, labeling, licensing, and use of preterm infant formula; or
        • (ii) any aspect of the safety of preterm infant formula;
      • whether the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act () should be amended to require a manufacturer of preterm infant formula to obtain premarket approval for such formula from the Food and Drug Administration; and 21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.
      • if the Secretary recommends such premarket approval, a process and corresponding requirements for such premarket approval.
  • (2) Recommendations
    • Not later than two years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, shall submit to the Congress a report on the results of the study under paragraph (1).
• (b) Temporary preemption
  • (1) Period of applicability
    • This subsection applies only during the period—
      • beginning on the date of enactment of this Act; and
      • ending on the date that is two years after the date of enactment of this Act.
  • (2) Preemption
    • Except as provided in paragraph (3), no State or political subdivision of a State may establish, implement, or enforce with respect to preterm infant formula any requirement, including under any State statute, regulation, order, or common law—
      • that is different from, or in addition to, any requirement applicable to preterm infant formula under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (), the Poison Prevention Packaging Act of 1970 (), or the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (); and 21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.; 15 U.S.C. 1471 et seq.; 15 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.
      • that relates to preterm infant formula, including—
        • (i) the design, development, clinical testing or investigation, formulation, manufacture, distribution, sale, donation, purchase, marketing, promotion, packaging, labeling, licensing, and use of preterm infant formula; and
        • (ii) any aspect of the safety of preterm infant formula.
  • (3) Exception for civil and criminal actions for willful misconduct
    • (A) Exception
      • Paragraph (2) does not preempt civil or criminal actions based on a requirement described in paragraph (2) to the extent such actions are against a manufacturer for willful misconduct in the manufacturing or production of preterm infant formula that caused death or serious physical injury.
    • (B) Removal
      • In the case of a civil action brought in a State court against a manufacturer, if that manufacturer alleges that the law under which the action is brought is preempted by paragraph (2), such action may be removed by the manufacturer to the district court of the United States for the district and division embracing the place wherein the civil action is pending. This subparagraph applies to any action pending before, on, or after the date of enactment of this Act, except to the extent that there is a final judgment from which no appeal may be taken and no further review may be sought from a court of last resort, including the Supreme Court of the United States.
    • (C) Burden of proof
      • In determining whether the exception in subparagraph (A) applies, the plaintiff shall have the burden of proving that the criteria described in subparagraph (A) are met by clear and convincing evidence.
  • (4) Dismissal of pending actions
    • A civil or criminal action that is pending as of the date of enactment of this Act shall be dismissed to the extent such action seeks to implement or enforce a requirement that is preempted by paragraph (2).
• (c) Definitions
  • In this section:
    • The term infant formula has the meaning given to such term in section 201(z) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (). 21 U.S.C. 321(z)
    • The term — manufacturer
    • The term preterm infant formula means any infant formula that is exempt under section 412(h)(1) of the Federal Food Drug, and Cosmetic Act () and intended to be administered to— 21 U.S.C. 350a(h)
    • The term willful misconduct means, except as such term is further restricted pursuant to subparagraph (B), an act or omission that is taken—