[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 59 (Thursday, May 8, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H2430-H2431]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         CELEBRATING THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN AMERICAN FAMILY LIFE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from North Carolina [Mrs. Clayton] is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, on Sunday we will observe Mother's Day, a 
day when we pause to celebrate the role of women in the life of 
American families. While celebrating the roles of women we also 
essentially celebrate infant and children, the true symbol of 
motherhood.
  It is, therefore, appropriate, in light of this celebration, that we 
examine the Federal programs that affect women, infants and children. 
It is appropriate at this time when we revere mothers, their infants, 
their children, the foundation of American families, that we examine 
the impact of our relevant action in Congress.
  The most relevant action is the current debate over funding for the 
nutritional program for women, infants and children, the WIC program. 
Mr. Speaker, WIC works. The data shows that for every dollar spent on 
the WIC program, between $2 and $4 are saved in health care costs, yet 
some 180,000 women and children face the loss of this vital support 
that has been proven effective because some would imbalance the lives 
of thousands of women, infants and children in order to balance the 
book of a few.
  On April 24 of this year the majority on the House Committee on 
Appropriations voted to provide only $38 million in special 
supplementary funds for the WIC program. The President had asked for 
$76 million as a compromise for the $100 million in his original 
request.
  If the supplemental funding is not provided at the level requested, 
thousands of current participants will be dropped from the program. The 
shortfall in funding could not be anticipated. Milk prices, for 
example, have grown faster than was projected. Consequently, program 
costs have grown. The additional $38 million needed to reach the $76 
million request is a sound investment in the future of our Nation.
  The WIC program provides nutritional assistance to poor women, 
infants and children up to the age of 5 who are at nutritional risk. 
This assistance, as I indicated, has proven to be effective in reducing 
low birth weight babies, infant mortality, and child anemia.
  WIC program funding has also been cited as a source of improving 
early learning abilities in children. In short, Mr. Speaker, the WIC 
program really pays for itself and advantages America.
  Of the 104 million women in America within the age range of 
childbearing, some 74 million are mothers. On average, these women bear 
close to three children during their lifetime. They produce the 
children who become the laborers and leaders for the future. They 
produce the children who become the Members of Congress generation 
after generation.
  Mother's Day, therefore, is not about a few flowers, a box of candy 
or a restaurant dinner. Mother's Day is about honoring and respecting 
those persons, the women of America, who play a significant role in the 
life of our Nation.
  It seems to me that the best way to celebrate Mother's Day is to 
honor all mothers. Poor mothers have produced productive children. The 
WIC program is not charity, the WIC program is a chance, a chance for 
our children who happen to be born in poverty to have sufficient 
nurturing to carry the oppression of poverty to the opportunity that 
America is offered. It is the chance any child has when a healthy start 
is available to them.

                              {time}  1900

  Mr. Speaker, the WIC Program works. Let us make it work for all of

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our children who are also in poverty. Let us make Mother's Day a day 
when we commit to the cause of all women, infants and children.

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