[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 54 (Wednesday, April 30, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H2009]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          WIC PROGRAM A GREAT FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SUCCESS STORY

  (Ms. DeLAURO asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, last week my Republican colleagues voted 
against the President's request for $76 million for the WIC Program. 
That is women, infants, and children. Our friends on the other side of 
the aisle will tell us that they voted to increase spending on women, 
infants, and children, but their so-called increase will force 180,000 
women and children to be removed from the WIC Program.
  WIC is one of the Government's greatest success stories, and every 
dollar that we invest in the program saves the Government $3.50 in 
other costs. If this bill passes without the additional $38 million 
that it needs, we will be hurting some of the most vulnerable members 
of our society: pregnant women and young children.
  This is about values. This is about throwing 180,000 women and 
children off of a food program. It will deny youngsters food.
  Last year my colleagues on the other side of the aisle tried to cut 
the school lunch program. Now they are going after WIC. It is wrong. 
This is the richest Nation in the world. We should not be taking food 
out of the mouths of children. I urge my Republican colleagues to 
rethink their actions.

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