House Democrats Introduce New Bill to Protect WIC Benefits from Partisan Gridlock

House Democrats Introduce New Bill to Protect WIC Benefits from Partisan Gridlock

WASHINGTON - Seventy House Democrats introduced the WIC Benefits Protection Act. This bill guarantees funding for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and ensures that eligible families will still receive critical nutrition assistance regardless of partisan gridlock or lapses in government funding.

Currently, the program supports nearly 7 million women, infants, and children-almost 40 percent of all infants in the United States. WIC has a proven track record of success in improving health outcomes and reducing food insecurity. However, as Republicans continue to draw out the shutdown, states, territories, and tribal organizations may be forced to pause services, leaving pregnant women and babies without access to healthy food or access to health services.

The WIC Benefits Protection Act would prevent these disruptions by making funding for the WIC program mandatory and ensuring consistent funding based on eligibility and need rather than relying on the appropriations process. By making funding for the WIC program mandatory, this bill would provide stability for states and peace of mind for families who rely on WIC's critical support.

"WIC is one of our nation's most effective and trusted nutrition programs, helping millions of women and children stay healthy and thrive," said Ranking Member Scott. "But right now, because of the Republican shutdown, mothers across the country-from Virginia to Guam-are concerned their benefits may run out. That is unconscionable. The harmful effects of hunger and poor nutrition on infants and pregnant women cannot be undone-you cannot reverse some of the lifelong consequences of going without essential nutrition as an infant. The WIC Benefits Protection Act will ensure that no eligible family will lose access to healthy food or WIC services because of political dysfunction in Washington."

"It's unacceptable that infants, young children, and expectant mothers might lose essential nutrition assistance because Republicans shut down the government," said ECESE Subcommittee Ranking Member Bonamici. "WIC services have never lapsed during a government shutdown, and they shouldn't lapse now. We must protect WIC funding today and in the future. Kids and expectant moms need nutritious meals. I call on Republicans to come back to Washington DC and work together to open the government while preserving important programs that affect the health and well-being of Americans."

The legislation is led by Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, and Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), House Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education, and cosponsored by Representatives James R. Walkinshaw (VA-11), Val T. Hoyle (OR-04), Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07), Yassamin Ansari (AZ-3), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Wesley Bell (MO-01), Robin L. Kelly (IL-02), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Summer L. Lee (PA-12), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Deborah K. Ross (NC-02), Alma S. Adams (NC-12), Jill N. Tokuda (HI-02), Johnny Olszewski (MD-02), Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), John K. Delaney (MD-06), Seth Magaziner (RI-02), Seth Moulton (MA-6), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. (IL-02), Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Shontel M. Brown (OH-11), Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Lucy McBath (GA-06), Eugene Simon Vindman (VA-07), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Greg Casar (TX-35), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Sanford D. Bishop (GA-02), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Lois Frankel (FL-22), Steven Horsford (NV-04), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Jennifer L. McClellan (VA-04), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Troy A. Carter (LA-02), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), Nikema Williams (GA-05), Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Jim P. McGovern (MA-02), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Gabe Amo (RI-01), Teresa Leger Fernandez (NM-03), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Kelly Morrison (MN-03), Janice D. Schakowsky (IL-09), Luz M. Rivas (CA-29), John Garamendi (CA-08), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29), Maxine Waters (CA-43), Gwen Moore(WI-4), Judy Chu (CA-28), Valerie P. Foushee (NC-04), Greg Landsman (OH-01), John Mannion (NY-22), and Kevin Mullin (CA-15).

For the bill text of the WIC Benefits Protection Act, click here.

To read the fact sheet for the WIC Benefits Protection Act, click here.

To learn more about the benefits of the WIC program, click here.

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