Amendment to Further Reduce Funding to WIC

This proposed amendment to the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, H.R. 2112, would have reduced the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) by $604 million.[1] WIC is a federal assistance program that safeguards the health and nutrition of low-income pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, as well as infants and children up to the age of five.[2] The program provides eligible individuals with nutritious foods, nutrition education, and referrals to health care.[3] In 2011, just under 9 million women, infants, and children received WIC benefits.[4]

At the time the amendment was proposed, H.R. 2112 appropriated approximately $6 billion to WIC for fiscal year 2012,[5] $686 million less than Congress had appropriated to the program the previous fiscal year.[6] As a result of this reduction in funding, between 200,000 and 350,000 low-income mothers and children would have been cut off from the program.[7] By decreasing WIC funding by another ten percent, the proposed amendment would have prevented thousands of additional women and children from accessing critical nutritious foods, nutrition services, and health care referrals.

The House did not pass this amendment.[8]

For more information

» Visit govtrack.us
Detailed information about the bill, including full text, floor speeches, sponsors and more

» Toggle footnotes

Legend

= vote to fight poverty = vote against fighting poverty = no vote