On July 22, I introduced the Safe Baby Formula Act to ensure that the formula consumed by developing infants is free of toxic levels of heavy metals. This legislation builds upon Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s initiative to improve infant formula quality, transparency, and safety.

 Thanks to the Trump administration’s efforts, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted the first comprehensive review of baby formula nutrient requirements since 1998. However, what should be included in baby formula is just as important as what should not.

 Recently, Consumer Reports ran tests for toxic chemicals—including arsenic and lead—on 41 infant formulas. According to the results, around half of the formulas “contained potentially harmful levels of at least one contaminant.” This is especially dangerous for our youngest Arkansans given that we know that high levels of exposure to heavy metals can lead to long-term brain damage in children.

 FDA’s Closer to Zero initiative identifies arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury as most harmful for infant health while recognizing that these heavy metals may occur naturally in the environment and are therefore impossible to completely remove.

 With this in mind, the Safe Baby Formula Act will keep our kids safe by mandating the FDA conduct a study on how infants are impacted by these heavy metals in baby formulas. Also, my bill will require the FDA to prohibit unsafe levels of contamination to make sure that babies get the nutrients they need without compromising their health.

 Additionally, on July 23, I reintroduced the HEALING Mothers and Fathers Act, which will provide support for parents and families who endure the unexpected loss of an unborn child. This bill will amend the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) so that families who suffer the tragic, spontaneous loss of an unborn child qualify for leave. Also, the bill will provide a tax break for mothers recovering from the loss of a stillborn baby. This tax benefit will mirror Paisley’s Law in Arkansas, named in honor of the late granddaughter of State Representative Les Eaves.

 To be sure, no amount of money or time off of work can eliminate the pain endured by parents who lose their child. However, this bill will offer families the space and support to begin the recovery process.

 Lastly, on July 24, I introduced the Neonatal Care Transparency Act to increase transparency regarding access to life-saving medical care for babies born prematurely. In recent decades, ground-breaking advancements in medicine and technology have given doctors the ability to save newborn babies born earlier and earlier.

 Though an increased amount of treatment options for premature babies now exists, not every hospital is willing or able to provide care for babies born before reaching a certain gestational age. A study published in the journal JAMA Network Open found that less than half of neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in the United States offer care for babies born at 22 weeks old.

 In many cases, pregnant mothers in early labor don’t know if a hospital can and will offer treatment for extremely premature newborns. The families of the approximately 8,000 babies who are born between 22 and 24 weeks old each year deserve better.

 The Neonatal Care Transparency Act will require hospitals to publicly disclose their policies for providing life-saving treatment for premature infants. Specifically, hospitals must disclose if the decision to provide life-saving treatment for preemies is determined by gestational age or on a case-by-case basis.

 In the event that a hospital cannot provide treatment for a premature baby, the hospital will also be required to disclose how a mother and her premature baby will be transferred to the nearest NICU for care.

 I think every child deserves a chance to live, which is why my bill mandates that hospitals disclose whether they have existing policies establishing the age at which a premature baby is eligible for care. This will enable parents to make the best medical decisions possible for their unborn child.

 I’m proud to support Arkansan mothers, fathers, and families through the Safe Baby Formula Act, the HEALING Mothers and Fathers Act, and the Neonatal Care Transparency Act. With these three pieces of legislation, I will continue to work for the protection, preservation, and prosperity of families throughout Arkansas and across America.