[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 64 (Wednesday, May 5, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E875]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING THE CONTRIBUTION OF WIC PROGRAMS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CAROLYN MCCARTHY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 5, 1999

  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of 
WIC's 25th Anniversary and to commend WIC for their years of sterling 
health and nutrition service to the nation's low-income women, infants 
and children.
  In the last 25 years, WIC has dramatically improved the nutrition and 
health of millions of Americans. WIC provides quality education and 
services to over 7.4 million pregnant women, new mothers, infants and 
preschool children through 10,000 clinics nationwide. It serves as a 
short-term intervention program designed to influence lifetime 
nutrition and health behaviors in a targeted, high-risk population. WIC 
provides quality education and services to over 7.4 million pregnant 
women, new mothers, infants and preschool children through 10,000 
clinics nationwide.
  As a nurse, I understand the importance of preventative care. Whether 
we are talking about health care, education or crime, services that 
focus on preventative care save money in the long run. That is why the 
WIC program is so important--it just makes sense. Studies have shown 
that pregnant women who participate in WIC have longer pregnancies 
leading to fewer premature births, have fewer low and very low birth 
weight babies, experience fewer fetal and infant deaths, and seek 
prenatal care earlier in pregnancy. WIC helps to assure normal 
childhood growth, reduces early childhood anemia, increases 
immunization rates, improves access to pediatric health care, and 
readies children to learn.
  Every dollar spent on pregnant women in WIC produces $1.92 to $4.21 
in Medicaid savings for newborns and their mothers. Consider the 
following: it costs $22,000 per pound to raise a low (less than 5.5 
pounds) or very law (less than 3.25 pounds) birth weight infant to 
normal weight. It costs $40 per pound to provide WIC prenatal benefits. 
Furthermore, Medicaid costs were reduced on average $12,000 to $15,000 
per infant for every very low birth weight birth prevented.
  These statistics illustrate that WIC works. By providing short-term 
preventative services, WIC improves the health and quality of life for 
millions of low-income women and children while at the same time saving 
the federal government money. We need to ensure that WIC continues to 
provide these important services--I know that I will continue to fight 
for funding for this important program.
  Again, I want to congratulate WIC on their 25th anniversary and I 
urge them to keep up the good work.

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