[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 59 (Thursday, May 8, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H2354]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            KEEP WIC AFLOAT

  (Mr. PALLONE asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, how can the Republicans deny milk, cereal, 
and formula, I have some dry milk up here, that is provided by the WIC 
Program to young children, to infants? I cannot imagine how they do not 
see this as a priority. That is what the Federal Government should be 
trying to do, to protect people who fall through the cracks. I have two 
young children myself, and I just cannot imagine the situation where I 
would not be able to provide them with the basic necessities of life.
  I know that the Republicans are saying that they do not need this 
money, that there is already carryover money from last year to pay for 
this WIC Program, but that is simply not true. What the Republicans 
fail to understand is that the 1996 funds have already been calculated 
into determining what funding is necessary to keep the WIC Program 
afloat. We need the supplemental appropriation to make sure that the 
kids get food in the morning.
  Republicans have to listen to their own Governors. It is the 
Republican Governors in California and Louisiana who are saying that 
this program has been cut and that they already have had to start 
denying children milk and cereal. Let us get together on this one. Let 
us make sure that we are not denying these kids the basic necessities 
of life.

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