[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 62 (Tuesday, May 13, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H2497]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       DO THE RIGHT THING FOR WIC

  (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, tomorrow the Republican leadership will 
have a chance to redeem itself and prove they are for America's 
children.
  A few weeks ago in the Committee on Appropriations, Republicans 
largely voted to gut the women, infants and children's WIC nutrition 
program. Republican leaders denied the nutrition needs of approximately 
880,000 at-risk children by not supporting the full funding request 
that was made by all 50 Governors and the administration.
  Republican extremists are arguing that WIC does not need full 
funding. They would rather deny children their nutrition needs than 
make up the $38 million shortfall. Mr. Speaker, many religious and 
antihunger advocates such as Catholic Charities, U.S.A., have written 
me citing that WIC is effective, efficient, and cost-beneficial. They 
are urging Congress to be compassionate to children, and meet their 
needs.
  Mr. Speaker, let us do the right thing and get our priorities 
straight as we go into the budget process. In order to accomplish that, 
we need to fully fund the WIC Program.

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