FMI Statement on the Need to Quickly Resolve the Government Shutdown

Arlington, VA - FMI - The Food Industry Association commented today on the need to quickly resolve the government shutdown to maintain the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, which is vitally important to providing women and young children with access to infant formula and nutrient dense foods. FMI Chief Public Policy Officer Jennifer Hatcher offered the following statement.

"Quickly resolving this government shutdown is critical to ensuring vulnerable populations like at-risk pregnant and post-partum women and young children can continue to secure infant formula and nutrient-dense foods that support their health. The WIC program, which has always had strong bi-partisan support, is caught in this shutdown because it relies on annual federal appropriations that expired on September 30 until the bipartisan Agriculture Appropriations legislation receives its final floor vote. While many states still have some leftover funds available for WIC benefits for a week or so, a longer-term lapse in government funding may impact WIC benefits to these moms and babies - an action both sides agree is unnecessary and unwanted.

"Congress needs to move forward quickly on a path that reopens the government and ensures WIC mothers and children are able to access critical infant formula and nutrient-dense foods like tuna, beans, fruits and vegetables, and dairy."