Hinson Co-Leads Bipartisan Bill Inspired by Mom Who Couldn’t Breastfeed During Cancer Treatment

Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (R-IA-02) joined Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL-25) in introducing bipartisan legislation to help families afford infant formula or donor breast milk when a mom or baby can’t breastfeed because of a medical condition. 

The legislation, Constance C. McDaniel Medically Necessary Infant Formula and Donor Milk Act, is named after a veteran, mother, and advocate who passed away from triple-negative breast cancer in 2025. Constance underwent chemotherapy while pregnant and after her baby was born she learned that she was unable to breastfeed — and that her insurance would not cover the cost of infant formula. She later partnered with The Breasties and Bobbie for Change to help other families facing similar challenges.

“As a mom, I can’t imagine the heartbreak of wanting to provide for your baby but being physically unable to breastfeed because of cancer, chronic illness, or another serious medical challenge. Yet, it is still too common — parents in those situations should be focused on caring for their child, not worrying about whether they can afford medically necessary formula or donor milk. This bipartisan bill is about supporting families during some of the hardest moments of their lives and making sure babies get the nutrition they need to thrive. I’m proud to work with Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and the moms and dads who brought this need to our attention.” — Congresswoman Ashley Hinson

“For so many moms, the decision to breastfeed is one that is deeply personal, but too often, diseases like cancer take this choice away from them. It’s more important than ever that parents who need these nutritious products for their newborns out of medical necessity can get them. I applaud Bobbie for Change, the Breasties, and the McDaniel family for their relentless advocacy on an issue that has gone overlooked for too long. I look forward to continuing this partnership and ensuring the Constance C. McDaniel Medically Necessary Infant Formula and Donor Milk Act becomes law." — Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz

“It borders impossible to put into words what transpired; the events, the timeline, the feelings, and what the consequences of all of that would be. Connie was on a mission and I’m so proud this bill will continue to honor her incredible legacy. I’m grateful for Representatives Wasserman Schultz and Hinson for hearing Connie’s story and turning it into action." — Matt McDaniel, Connie’s husband and father of two
 
“Before we even had a product on the shelf, we said we’d fight like hell to fix this glaring gap, and today, we are bringing that fight to the halls of Congress. We always knew that sponsoring feeding journeys for these families was a temporary bridge. By taking this fight to Capitol Hill, we are moving beyond giveback and toward justice. We are proving that when private innovation and non-profit advocacy unite, we can create the kind of lasting, structural change that ensures no parent ever has to choose between their health and their baby’s nutrition again.” — Laura Modi, CEO and Co-Founder of Bobbie and mom of four
 
“By collaborating with the members of Congress to draft this bill together, we’re taking our advocacy to the next level. This is what long-lasting change looks like in practice: it’s the evolution of an urgent question into a piece of federal legislation that will hopefully outlast us all. We’re proving that when you build a community around a shared mission, you can create something far bigger than we ever could have imagined.” — Allie Brumel, COO and Co-Founder of the Breasties and mom of two

Background:

• This bill would establish the “Medically Necessary Infant Formula Pilot Program” within HHS to provide financial assistance for eligible individuals to purchase covered infant formula or donor milk.
• Eligible individuals would include: non-WIC parents or legal guardians of infants who are unable to breastfeed due to medically diagnosed physical conditions, chronic disease, behavioral or mental health issues, adoption, maternal mortality, surrogacy following a medical diagnosis, or because the infant has medical feeding issues such as digestive problems, allergies, feeding tubes, or latching disorders.

This legislation builds on Hinson’s ongoing work to improve maternal and infant health outcomes by expanding access to trained midwives and maternal care providers, as well as her efforts to prevent stillbirth and miscarriage. Two summers ago, Hinson's bipartisan, bicameral Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act was signed into law to help save the lives of mothers and babies across America.

The full text of the bill can be found here.

This legislation is endorsed by Bobbie for Change, the Breasties, Brightspot Network, Chick Mission, Kasem, 4KiraforMoms, and Hope for PDCD Foundation.