[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 101 (Friday, July 24, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1431]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       CHILD NUTRITION AND WIC REAUTHORIZATION AMENDMENTS OF 1996

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. MARGE ROUKEMA

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 20, 1998

  Mrs. ROUKEMA. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that we are reauthorizing the 
WIC program here today.
  The WIC program is a program that works, and in the longer-term, 
actually saves federal money. For every one-dollar used in the prenatal 
segment of the WIC program, Medicaid saves untold monies and gives 
healthy productive lives to these children and cannot be measured in 
dollars and cents.
  WIC works. It reduces the instances of infant mortality, low 
birthweight, malnutrition and the myriad other problems of impoverished 
children. The WIC program also provides valuable health care counseling 
for expectant mothers for both mothers and children.
  Within the past year, Time and Newsweek magazines have written 
feature articles on the importance of the years from birth to age 
three. These articles validate long-standing research based on up-to-
date studies of pre-natal and early childhood development. WIC funding 
is a big part of the future development of these infants.
  We want all of our children to have a good start. Proper nutrition is 
essential for healthy growth, the ability to learn, and the chance for 
a future as a productive citizen.
  This is a wise investment.

                          ____________________