[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 54 (Wednesday, April 30, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H2012]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               DEMOCRATS CONFUSED ON WIC FUNDING PROPOSAL

  (Mr. KINGSTON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, it appears that the Democrats are confused 
again. There is nothing unusual there. But on the WIC program, I do not 
know if they have read the bill. Had they read the bill, they would 
know that WIC is fully funded at $3.7 billion, a historic all time high 
for WIC, funded by the Republican majority in Congress. I will send 
them a copy of the bill if they want it. Where their confusion lies is 
that they are using 1994 census records when they say that WIC is not 
fully funded.
  At least in my part of the country, it is 1997. We do not have 1996 
records but we do have 1995 records, and they confirm that WIC is fully 
funded. Democrats, there is no reason, even for political purposes, to 
use 1994 records.
  Second, there is a $100 million carryover of unused WIC funds right 
now, $100 million in unused funds sitting in reserve for WIC.
  Third, the President of the United States has said welfare is down 15 
percent. If welfare is down, why do Democrats insist on an emergency 
basis on increasing welfare funding? Again, Mr. Speaker, the Democrats 
are confused. What else is new?

                          ____________________