[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 64 (Wednesday, May 5, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E865]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             WIC: 25 YEARS OF BUILDING A HEALTHIER AMERICA

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 5, 1999

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for WIC, 
the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and 
children. It is vital that, in order to ensure that people grow up and 
live healthy lives, they receive proper nutrition.
  WIC is an indispensable organization that serves over 7.4 million 
pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and preschool children in over 
10,000 clinics nationwide. Thankfully, WIC is designed to aid those who 
regrettably have an income level of 185 percent of poverty or less, are 
enrolled in Medicaid or have been recommended by a health professional. 
It is essential that we ensure healthy children and adults by making 
sure that mothers receive proper nutrition long before their children 
are born and during their early years of development. Children will 
perform better in school and lead more productive lives when they 
receive the proper nutrition from the very beginning.
  A common theme in all branches of government today is that of the 
importance of the family. WIC strengthens families by providing low-
cost services to families who are at risk due to low income and 
nutritionally related health conditions. Because two-thirds of all WIC 
families live below the poverty level, the services they provide are 
essential in making sure that these families stay together.
  The strength of any nation comes from the strength of its people. In 
order for us to assure that the United States remains strong we must be 
sure that all of our citizens are healthy, starting from the time when 
they are very young. WIC is a program that ensures just that. 
Accordingly, I urge all of my colleagues to support it.

                          ____________________