Oklahoma House Republicans ask state Attorney General and Governor to help recover baby formula sent to Southern Border

OKLAHOMA CITY – Representative Ross Ford, R-Broken Arrow, and 21 additional House Republican representatives on Tuesday (May 17) called on Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt and state Attorney General John O’Connor to work on securing the immediate release of baby formula being held at the nation’s southern border and to stop further shipments.

Below is the full text of letters sent to the governor and the attorney general:

“We in the Oklahoma Legislature are calling upon you to act in the best interest of Oklahomans and to ensure the Federal Government is doing all they can to help Oklahomans receive the supplies they need by stopping the shipments of baby formula to the Southern Border and immediately release the stockpile of formula already being held there.

“After a product recall and a major plant shut down, the Biden Administration should have immediately worked to increase production and the FDA should have sped up inspections to prepare for the upcoming shortage. Instead, they waited to act until 43% of the product is already off of the shelves and to make matters worse the Federal Government sent a large quantity of baby formula to the Southern Border increasing the effects of the shortage on the American people.

“Now we are hearing reports of Oklahomans who can’t find baby formula in their city and are having to drive two hours away, sometimes out of state, just to properly feed their children. That is unacceptable in our eyes and something must be done to fix this issue.

“We owe it to our citizens to ensure they have the supplies they need to properly care for their families. We ask you as one of our State’s leaders to do everything in your power to free up the federal stockpile of baby formula at the Southern Border so Oklahomans and Americans can find the products they need to feed their children.”

In addition to Ford, the letter is signed by Representatives Brad Boles, R-Marlow; Carol Bush, R-Tulsa; Chad Caldwell, R-Enid; Sherrie Conley, R-Newcastle; Denise Crosswhite Hader, R-Piedmont; Dean Davis, R-Broken Arrow; Justin Humphrey, R-Lane; Robert Manger, R-Oklahoma City; Marcus McEntire, R-Duncan; Nicole Miller, R-Edmond; Carl Newton, R-Cherokee; Rep. Jadine Nollan, R-Sand Springs; Terry O’Donnell, R-Catoosa; Jim Olsen, R-Roland; Mike Osburn, R-Edmond; Todd Russ, R-Cordell; Lonnie Sims, R-Jenks; Marilyn Stark, R-Bethany; Tammy Townley, R-Ardmore; Kevin West, R-Moore; and Rande Worthen, R-Lawton.

Note: Rep. Ross Ford, a Republican from Broken Arrow, serves District 76 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. His district includes part of Tulsa County.