[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 143 (Sunday, October 11, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2077]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 3874, WILLIAM F. GOODLING CHILD NUTRITION 
                      REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 1998

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                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 8, 1998

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE. Mr. Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to speak 
on this important bill. This program, the Women, Infants and Children 
nutrition program provides nutrition education and supplemental food to 
low-income pregnant and post-partum women, infants and children up to 
age five. The purpose of the bill is to reauthorize through the year 
2003, the WIC nutrition program. It also contains other provisions 
including breastfeeding promotion which I have supported through my co-
sponsorship of the Lactation in the Workplace Act.
  This program will also reauthorize a national summer food program for 
children of low income families, because children need to eat even when 
they are out of school. In my opinion, Mr. Speaker, there is nothing 
more important than making sure our children and our families are safe 
and healthy.
  WIC provides our children with the basics they need. This is not a 
luxury program, it is a necessity, and we must continue to reauthorize 
it!
  I cannot imagine that anyone would vote against this bill that keeps 
our children fed, and helps our families survive. Thank you for the 
opportunity to speak here today.

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