[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 65 (Friday, May 16, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H2795-H2796]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         DEMOCRATS WILL DEMAND FULL FUNDING FOR THE WIC PROGRAM

  (Mr. PALLONE asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1

[[Page H2796]]

minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, after weeks of resistance the Republican 
leadership yesterday finally allowed the House to vote to provide the 
full $76 million in funding needed to keep thousands of children and 
pregnant women enrolled in the Women, Infants, and Children, or WIC, 
nutrition program.
  I must say, we are far from home free on this issue. The Senate, 
unfortunately, has provided only $58 million for WIC, and Democrats 
today will offer a resolution on the House floor stating that the House 
should stand firm in its negotiations and demand that the Senate agree 
to restore funding for the remaining 85,000 at-risk women and children.
  Republicans also voted yesterday for automatic cuts that could 
undermine the commitment for WIC by freezing funding for it at current 
levels, this year's level. The President has made it clear he will veto 
this funding bill if that is what it includes, but I have to say that 
we still have a lot of work to do to make sure that the full funding is 
provided for WIC. The Democrats are determined that we will see that 
through and there will be full funding for the WIC Program.

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