Committee Democrats Release New Report on WIC Funding Cliff
Report Makes Case for Permanently and Fully Funding WIC Program
WASHINGTON – Today, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released a new report—On the Brink: The Case for Permanently and Fully Funding the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants & Children (WIC). The report outlines the devastating consequences for millions of women and children if Congress fails to provide the funding necessary to serve all families seeking WIC services.
“The recognition of how important nutrition is to the health and well-being of pregnant women and children led to the creation of WIC in 1972. The federal government has for decades shown a commitment to fully funding WIC, ensuring that eligible applicants may receive benefits. That promise is now being threatened for the first time in decades, and the nutritional health of over six million women, infants, and children is at stake, as well as future savings in health care costs. Congress must continue to support nutritionally vulnerable women and children by sufficiently funding WIC,” the report states.
Among other findings, the new report highlights how House Republicans’ appropriations proposals for Fiscal Year 2024 would break the decades-long bipartisan commitment to sufficiently funding the WIC program. As many as two million young children and pregnant and postpartum adults could lose access to WIC benefits entirely if Congress does not reverse course and provide additional dollars to fully fund the program.
In addition to calling for full funding, the report provides compelling evidence for permanently funding the WIC program. The WIC program has been proven to improve the short-term and long-term health of millions of women, infants, and children each year. Moreover, by providing nutrition support for women, infants, and children early on, the WIC program reduces special education and health care costs down the road.
To read the full report, click here.
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