Scott, Bonamici Urge USDA to Minimize Disruptions to WIC Services for Pregnant Women and Infants During Government Shutdown

Scott, Bonamici Urge USDA to Minimize Disruptions to WIC Services for Pregnant Women and Infants During Government Shutdown

Roughly half a million pregnant women and nearly 40 percent of all infants in the United States rely on WIC.

WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, and House Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) urged Department of Agriculture Secretary (USDA) Brooke Rollins to minimize disruption of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) during a government shutdown and to provide clarity to states to ensure that families are not unnecessarily turned away. Roughly half a million pregnant women and nearly 40 percent of all infants in the United States rely on WIC.

"The [WIC] program is instrumental in improving access to nutritious food among low-income families, promoting breastfeeding, and ensuring mothers, infants, and young children can access health care and social services," wrote the Ranking Members. "Regrettably, as the federal government enters a shutdown, states will experience delays in funding for WIC, putting low-income pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and young children at risk."

The Members continued, "If funding is disrupted, states may be forced to discontinue services for program participants amidst the uncertainty of federal funding…An immediate public commitment from the Department to promptly replenish state funds once the shutdown is over would help alleviate state fiscal concerns and perhaps deter states from discontinuing funding during the shutdown."

During previous government shutdowns, many states relied on their general funds to continue WIC services with the understanding that the federal government would reimburse those funds when the shutdown ended.

The Ranking Members inquired whether USDA plans to use contingency or unspent funds to minimize disruption once again during this government shutdown and asked USDA to provide assurances and clear guidance to states regarding the shutdown to avoid unnecessary financial stress and uncertainty.

To read the full letter, click here.

###

Press Contact

Contact: Democratic Press Office, 202-226-0853