Larson Announces Bill to Protect Funding for WIC Benefits During Government Shutdown

East Hartford, CT - Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) announcedthe Continuity and Reimbursement for Essential Nutrition (CARE) for WIC During Shutdowns Act with Rep. Gabe Amo (RI-01) to protect access to nutrition benefitsduring the Republican government shutdown.

Their bill would ensure states are reimbursed for any costs they incur to keep Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) programs running during a government shutdown. Earlier today, Governor Lamont authorized state fundingto support WIC programs during the shutdown.

"Mothers and their children should not go hungry because Republicans in Congress shut down the government when they didn't get their way," said Larson. "Governor Lamont did the right thing today by stepping up to ensure WIC benefits continue throughout the shutdown, but our state should not have to pay the price for Trump's failure to govern. Our CARE for WIC Actis a common-sense plan to ensure states like Connecticut that step in to feed families during this time are reimbursed when government re-opens. We will not back down from this fight to re-open government and protect families from rising costs. The people are our priority - today and every day."

More than 52,000 Connecticut residents receive WIC support, including 30,000 children, 11,000 infants, and 11,000 pregnant and postpartum women. It costs the state $200,000/day to run.