[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]




                          WIC DEBATE CONTINUES

  (Mr. HINCHEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Speaker, 2 weeks ago the Committee on Appropriations 
rejected the President's request for full funding of WIC through the 
end of this fiscal year. Once again, the majority party here and its 
leadership is asking us to literally take the food out of children's 
mouths. First it was the school lunch cuts in 1995, then the $23 
billion in cuts to food stamps in the 1996 welfare bill, and now in 
1997 as many as 180,000 pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children 
under age 5 will be denied basic nutrition.
  WIC is not Government waste. In fact, it is one of the most highly 
regarded Government programs. Extensive research shows that WIC has 
proven to reduce the incidence of low birth weights, infant mortality, 
and child anemia. And it is cost effective. According to the GAO, each 
$1 spent on prenatal WIC services saves the Government $3.50 in 
Medicaid and other costs. We need this program. Let us fund it fully 
and appropriately for the benefit and welfare of young families in 
America.

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