Amo Leads 49 Colleagues Introducing Legislation to Protect Nutrition Assistance for Women, Infants, and Children During Republican Government Shutdown

Central Falls, RI - TODAY, Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI) announced the Continuity and Reimbursement for Essential Nutrition (CARE) for WIC During Shutdowns Actduring a tour of Children's Friend in Central Falls. Amo discussed the importance of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), a federal nutrition program that provides nutritious foods to nearly 7 million pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, infants, and children up to 5 years old.

Amo's CARE for WIC During Shutdowns Actwould ensure states are reimbursed for any shortfall in federal WIC funding caused by a government shutdown. As of 2024, over 18,000 Rhode Islanders are enrolled, and an estimated 38,000 are eligible for WIC. Nearly 40 percent of all infants in the U.S. benefit from WIC.

"Children and expectant or postpartum mothers need to eat whether or not Congressional Republicans choose to help," said Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI). "Seeing the critical WIC nutrition services Children's Friend delivers to Rhode Island families, further reinforced the need for my CARE for WIC During Shutdowns Act. This legislation ensures states have certainty that they will receive federal government reimbursement after a government shutdown if they step in and use state funds to temporarily fund WIC. I'm fighting in Congress to make sure every Rhode Island mom, mom-to-be, and child sees no disruption to WIC even if Republicans shut down the government."

"WIC is one of the best ways we can ensure babies, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, and children have adequate nutrition," said Lucia Santiago, Director of Nutrition Services at Children's Friend. "For now, our services are operating, but there is so much uncertainty and confusion. We can't afford for these families to slip through the cracks."

Background

Continuity and Reimbursement for Essential Nutrition (CARE) for WIC During Shutdowns Act

• During previous federal government shutdowns, some states stepped up to continue WIC services using their general funds when federal funding for WIC ran out. In those instances, the federal government reimbursed states once the government reopened. However, reimbursement is not guaranteed under current law and will depend on administrative discretion.
• During this Republican government shutdown, states cannot simply rely on the word of President Donald Trump and Republicans who have shown time and again that they will go the extra mile to hurt vulnerable Americans.
• The CARE for WIC During Shutdowns Act would provide certainty for states by ensuring states can keep providing WIC and are reimbursed after a government shutdown, regardless of who is in charge.

Original sponsors of the CARE for WIC During ShutdownsAct include: Representatives Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Raul Ruiz (CA-25), Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Greg Landsman (OH-01), James Walkinshaw (VA-11), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Luz Rivas (CA-29), Troy Carter (LA-02), Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Shomari Figures (AL-02), Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Shontel Brown (OH-11), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Summer Lee (PA-12), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Frederica Wilson (FL-24), Deborah Ross (NC-02), Marc Veasey (TX-33), Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), Mike Thompson (CA-04), André Carson (IN-07), Alma Adams (NC-12), Herb Conaway (NJ-03), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Rob Menendez (NJ-08), Jake Auchincloss (MA-04), John Larson (CT-01), Seth Magaziner (RI-02), Sarah McBride (DE-AL), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Chris Pappas (NH-01), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Wesley Bell (MO-01)

Republicans and WIC

• As Trump's tariffs continue to hike grocery prices, the last thing families need is more barriers to accessing basic nutrition. Trump promised to lower costs for working families on day one; yet, food is more expensive now than it was a year ago, making programs like WIC more essential than ever.
• Speaker Mike Johnson recently stated that the "WIC program is something that we all champion." Additionally, OMB Director Russ Vought warnedWIC may pause without a government funding deal. In advance of this Republican Government shutdown, the White House threatened WIC funding with the false claim, "By instigating a government shutdown, Democrats are turning their backs on WIC recipients."
• Trump and RFK Jr. love to talk about healthy diets and the importance of nutritious foods for families. But Trump's Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 budget plan seeks to slash WIC funding by nearly $300 million, cutting benefits for breastfeeding mothers from $52 to $13and reducing the program's Fruits and Vegetables Benefit or Cash Value to its lowest levels since 2001.
  • The House Republican FY26 budget proposesan effective cut for the program by maintaining the same funding level as FY2025, seeking to rescind $100 million from carryover balances from FY2025 funding, and making a 10 percent reduction in the WIC Cash Value benefit.
• Republicans' Big, Ugly Law caused changes to Medicaid and SNAP that indirectly harm WIC through adjunctive eligibility. WIC relies on families proving participation in programs like Medicaid or SNAP to streamline access to benefits. Limiting Medicaid and SNAP, as Republicans did in their law, forces families to provide separate income documentation, increasing red tape and reducing access. This added burden coulddiscourage WIC enrollmentand leave families without critical nutrition support.
  • Over 8 million women and childrenqualify for WIC through adjunctive eligibility each month. More than 3 million could lose WIC access entirely if they lose Medicaid due to changes in the Big, Ugly Law.

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