[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 64 (Wednesday, May 5, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E861]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


          RECOGNIZING THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WIC PROGRAM

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. PATSY T. MINK

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 5, 1999

  Mrs. MINK of Hawaii. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to note that 
today marks the 25th anniversary of the Special Supplemental Program 
for Women, Infants, and Children--better known as WIC.
  I was a member of Congress when the WIC program was created and am 
very proud of what it has accomplished. The hopes we had for the 
program have been achieved. WIC assists millions of lower-income 
pregnant, postpartum, and nursing women, infants, and children who are 
at risk of poor nutrition and health problems. The WIC program results 
in healthier babies and prevents health problems that would cost far 
more in dollars and human suffering than WIC's preventive nutrition 
services.
  I am especially proud of Hawaii's WIC program, which has increased 
its caseload by some 34 percent while absorbing a budget cut of 30 
percent over the past two years. This remarkable accomplishment 
resulted in Faye Nakamoto, director of Hawaii's WIC program, being 
named 1998 Hawaii State Manager of the Year.
  As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of WIC, I urge all my colleagues 
to support the president's funding request of $4.1 billion--an increase 
of $181.5 million from the funding levels of FY 1999 and 1998--so that 
this valuable program will be able to serve more women and children in 
need.

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