[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 68 (Wednesday, May 12, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E942]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         PROVIDING WIC BENEFITS TO OVERSEAS MILITARY PERSONNEL

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                        HON. WILLIAM F. GOODLING

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 12, 1999

  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing legislation that 
will put an end to unfair treatment of military personnel stationed 
overseas and their families. These dedicated personnel who are 
performing invaluable service to the nation, along with their families, 
are currently ineligible for supplemental nutrition services which we 
provide for other citizens.
  The Department of Defense estimates that 46,658 women, infants, and 
children are currently denied benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition 
Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). That means that 
military personnel and their families, to whom our nation owes 
substantial gratitude, are being treated as second-class citizens. They 
are denied basic services which would be available to them had they not 
volunteered to serve their country.
  As a nation, we are better than that. We are already asking men and 
women who serve in the military to make significant sacrifices. Those 
sacrifices should not include the health and well being of their 
families.
  Since its inception, we have seen very clear evidence that 
participation in WIC has reduced the number of low birthweight babies 
and birth defects caused by poor nutrition during pregnancy. In 
addition, the nutritional supplements received by infants and young 
children help prevent health problems related to poor nutrition. This 
small investment in nutritional assistance for individual participants 
saves our country a great deal in health care costs and costs related 
to special education services.
  The WIC program also includes an education component which is key to 
the program's success. These nutrition and education benefits should be 
available to all U.S. citizens, regardless of where they are residing.
  Present law authorizes the Secretary of Defense to carry out a 
program similar to WIC to provide special supplemental food benefits to 
military personnel overseas. However, current law relies heavily on the 
transfer of funds and commodities from the Secretary of Agriculture to 
operate this program. These funds have never been made available. 
Therefore, the legislation I am introducing today would call on the 
Secretary of Defense to use funds available for the Department of 
Defense to carry out this program. It would also require the Department 
of Agriculture to provide technical assistance to the Department of 
Defense to insure program quality.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe very strongly that our military personnel 
overseas should have access to the same nutritional support as families 
residing in the United States. My legislation would enable the 
Department of Defense to provide these services. I would encourage my 
colleagues to cosponsor this legislation, which insures that our 
overseas military personnel and their families reap the same benefits 
from program participation.

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