[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 182 (Thursday, November 14, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1445-E1446]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          RECOGNIZING THE EXTRAORDINARY WORK OF CALIFORNIA WIC

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HARLEY ROUDA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 14, 2019

  Mr. ROUDA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the work of 
California Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, 
and Children (WIC) for its tremendous contribution to enhancing equity 
in access to healthy foods for low-income families with young children. 
The WIC program has been an important resource for vulnerable families, 
providing a critical nutritional safety net for low-income pregnant 
women, infants, and young children across the United States.
  WIC's contribution to the health and welfare of Orange County 
residents is unparalleled. With its continued supply of nutritious 
foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and nutrition-
related information, WIC has had a significant positive impact on 
communities in Orange County. In addition, thanks to WIC

[[Page E1446]]

programs, many residents have benefited from the substantial cost 
savings that have been accrued from early investments in maternal and 
child nutrition.
  On November 11, 2019, the first wave of WIC sites in Orange County 
began providing food benefits in a new way--through the California WIC 
Card. Previously, families served by WIC received paper vouchers 
instead. This change is expected to greatly improve the WIC participant 
experience, while also improving the reimbursement experience for WIC 
vendors to ensure the dollars redeemed in stores in our community are 
received more efficiently.
  I ask all members to join me in recognizing the extraordinary work 
and contributions of California WIC and their efforts to modernize 
operations to ensure a better and more efficient experience for all who 
participate.

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