Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) opposed Republican efforts to dramatically cut funding for the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program.  WIC, funded through H.R. 2112, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food & Drug Administration and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, provides food to low- and moderate-income mothers, babies, and children under five.

“For reasons that I simply cannot understand, the Republicans seem to be at war with the working poor, and are attempting to save money on the backs of pregnant women and young children by once again attacking the WIC program,” said Nadler.  “Nearly 50% of babies born in the United States each year rely on WIC to get a healthy start to life….Make no mistake about it: this is about – literally – taking food out of the mouths of babies.  The Republicans’ effort is not in line with American values, and I urge my colleagues to restore this critical funding.”
The following is the text of Nadler’s statement on H.R. 2112:

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the Republican effort to cut funding for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, also known as the WIC program. 

“Since 1972, the WIC program has provided food to low- and moderate-income moms, babies, and children under five.  For pregnant women, WIC provides the foods she needs to help her growing baby get the nutrients he or she needs to grow.  After the baby is born, WIC makes sure that moms can get the breastfeeding support or infant formula they need to make sure their babies continue to grow and develop.  And, for young children, the WIC program provides staples like milk, eggs, bread, fresh fruits, and vegetables.  Nearly 50% of babies born in the United States each year rely on WIC to get a healthy start to life.

“If nothing else, you would think that Democrats and Republicans would be able to agree to make sure that pregnant women, infants, and young children have access to nutritious food, right?  Wrong.

“For reasons that I simply cannot understand, the Republicans seem to be at war with the working poor, and are attempting to save money on the backs of pregnant women and young children by once again attacking the WIC program.  This past April, the Republicans proposed an approximately 12 percent cut in WIC funding.  While we were able to beat that back somewhat, the program still sustained a seven percent – or half a billion dollar – cut this year.  Sadly, the Republicans are now pushing for even deeper cuts to this vital program, proposing another $833 million in cuts to the program in FY2012. 

“Due to these cuts and the increasing cost of food, 200,000 to 350,000 eligible pregnant women and children will be denied food packages that include infant formula, fresh fruits, vegetables, and milk.  In my home state of New York, this could lead to anywhere from 11,000 to almost 20,000 women and children being forced to go without much needed food supplies.  Knocking these families out of the WIC program is an about-face on a 15-year bipartisan commitment to ensure that WIC funds cover all eligible women, infants, and children who apply. 

“Shockingly, at the same time that Republicans are demanding that pregnant women and children tighten their belts, they continue to promote tax holidays for millionaires and billionaires.  If we suspended the Bush tax break to the wealthiest one percent of Americans for just one week – let me say that again, just one week – we could cover the cost of the Republicans’ latest cut of $833 million to the WIC program. 

“Mr. Speaker, when it comes to budgeting and the deficit, our colleagues and political pundits alike consistently ask the same question:  if this were your family’s budget, what would you do?  Nowhere is this question more salient than when in comes to America’s children.  So I ask my friends on the other side of the aisle, if we were talking about your family’s budget, would you cut funds for groceries for yourself and your kids while at the same time paying for a lavish holiday for someone else to enjoy? 

“The debate over WIC funding specifically, but the federal budget generally, is about our priorities.  By supporting the Republican proposal that would slash WIC funding, forcing thousands of otherwise eligible women and children from the rolls, we’re saying that America prioritizes tax holidays for those who need it the least over providing much-needed food supplies to pregnant women, infants, and small children.   

“Mr. Speaker, make no mistake about it:  this is about – literally – taking food out of the mouths of babies.  The Republicans’ effort is not in line with American values, and I urge my colleagues to restore this critical funding.”

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