Chairs of Leading Congressional Caucuses Lead Letter to Leadership Urging Full Funding for WIC

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Nanette Barragán, Congressional Black Caucus Chair Steven Horsford, and Democratic Women’s Caucus Chair Lois Frankel led a letter to Congressional leadership calling for additional emergency funding in the next short-term spending bill and full funding for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children program (WIC) in the final FY 2024 agriculture appropriations legislation.

This letter comes at a critical point when millions of low-income children and women are at risk of losing significant portions of their benefits, and 600,000 young children and postpartum women -- a disproportionate number of who are Black women – are on the verge of being turned away from WIC when they apply for these critical benefits. . This looming shortfall was sparked due to recent unprecedented financial constraints caused by a rise in program participation and food costs and comes amid House Republicans attempts to cut WIC despite the critical need to bolster the program. 

“For nearly three decades, states have not had to turn away new applicants or participants for the WIC program. This will no longer be the case if additional funding is not secured in FY24,” wrote the lawmakers. “WIC is one of America’s most effective nutritional assistance programs and public health success stories. If increased funding is not secured, the physical well-being of millions of low-income children and women are at massive risk. The effect of this cut will fall disproportionately on Black and Hispanic families. Congress must safeguard these individuals from any potential harm.” 

“There are currently more than 1.5 million Hispanic children and 750,000 Black children aged one through four who participate in WIC. Without additional funding, these children, including the 350,000 Hispanic and the 160,000 Black three-year-olds, could be turned away when they turn four,” concluded the lawmakers.

For nearly 49 years, WIC has provided critical nutrition benefits, breastfeeding support, and other vital services to low-income pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and children under five years of age who are at nutritional risk. WIC is administered at the federal level by the Food and Nutrition Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The full text of the letter is below and HERE.

Dear Majority Leader Schumer, Minority Leader McConnell, Speaker Johnson, and Minority Leader Jeffries:

We are writing to ask for your timely leadership in providing additional emergency funding to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) for FY24 in the next possible legislative vehicle to ensure any appropriations package fully funds the program. As you know, WIC is one of our most effective and important programs, providing critical nutrition assistance and services to nearly 7 million low-income pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and young children. Yet the WIC program is facing a dire and highly unusual threat. As a result of increased program participation and the rising cost of food prices, annual funding bills proposed in both the House and Senate fail to provide sufficient funding to serve WIC’s projected number of participants and provide them with the full benefit. The most recent public request from the Administration reflects that fully funding the WIC program for FY24 would require $1.4 billion over FY23 levels.

According to a Center on Budget and Policy Priorities analysis of both funding bills, roughly 600,000 eligible low-income postpartum women and young children would be turned away from the program, potentially jeopardizing their health. In addition, the House bill proposes slashing WIC benefits to 4.7 million pregnant and postpartum women, toddlers, and preschoolers. A disproportionate share of those who are at risk of losing access to WIC or having their benefits cut are Black and Hispanic.

WIC provides critical nutrition benefits, breastfeeding support, and other vital services to low-income pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and children under five years of age who are at nutritional risk. In recognition of WIC’s positive impacts on health and developmental outcomes, for more than 25 years policymakers have adhered to a bipartisan commitment to provide the program with sufficient funding to serve all eligible families who seek to participate. During this period, benefits have not been cut and states have not had to turn away new applicants or participants who reach the end of their certification period and need to renew their benefits. This will no longer be the case if additional funding is not provided to fully protect participation and benefits in FY24.

The consequences of not fully funding WIC in the upcoming appropriations bill would be catastrophic. If lower funding levels require states to reduce WIC participation, program rules would result in preschoolers and postpartum women who are not breastfeeding being turned away first. That means that when a woman who is participating in WIC while pregnant gives birth and thus needs to renew her WIC benefits, her baby could continue to receive infant formula, but her benefits might be discontinued. The effect of this cut will fall disproportionately on Black and Hispanic families.

Additionally, because breastfeeding rates are lower for Black women, waiting lists for postpartum women who aren’t breastfeeding would fall disproportionately on Black mothers - who are already at higher risk for severe pregnancy-related health issues. All told, Black women represent 21 percent of pregnant and breastfeeding women participating in WIC, but 28 percent of postpartum women who are not breastfeeding.

There are currently more than 1.5 million Hispanic children and 750,000 Black children aged one through four who participate in WIC. Without additional funding, these children, especially the 350,000 Hispanic and the 160,000 Black three-year-olds, could be turned away when they turn four and have to recertify.

We urge you to act in the best interests of low-income women and children across the country who need the critical and very effective assistance WIC provides. The program needs to be fully funded in the final appropriations legislation for FY24. It is imperative to increase WIC funding to meet the anticipated FY24 need as soon as possible on an emergency basis and make sure it is fully funded in the final appropriations bill for fiscal year 2024.

Sincerely,

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