production, gerber products co., robert cleveland, senior vice president of nutrition of america and reckett. thank you all and i know you are aware the committee is holding an investigative hearing and we have a practice of taking testimony under all. you have any objections with testifying under all? the witnesses responded no. the chair man advises you, you are entitled to counsel. do you you desire to be a copy companies by counsel today? let the record reflect the witnesses responded no. please raise your white hand right-hand. do you swear that testimony is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth? left out record reflect the witnesses has responded affirmatively and you are under old and subject to the penalty set forth by title 18 the chair will recognize each of the witnesses for five minutes to provide opening statements. i would like you to be aware is a timer on your screen that will count down your time and i will recognize you, mr. calam
subcommittee seeks answers on how families across the country have faced empty shelves during this infant formula shortage. we expect answers from the fda, abbott, and the other two leading formula manufacturers on why caregivers are scrambling to find the necessary nutrition they need to sustain their babies and children. most importantly, we will discuss solutions to prevent this from ever happening again in the future. the current formula shortage has real consequences. babies and children are suffering. parents are nervous wrecks trying to this. i have heard stories from partitions from pediatricians trying to get nourishment for their children. i have spoken to parents who have driven from store to store to find formula. i have heard from children s hospitals who are seeing an increase in patients because caregivers have not been able to secure the formula they need. we know this has a disk portion it a disproportionate impact on of income families and families tha