Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011

Floor Speech

Mr. Chair, I along with Representative Gwen Moore from Wisconsin, submit the following statement on H.R. 1, the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act for 2011.

As Co-Chairs of the bipartisan Women's Caucus, the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is important to us. It is a program that has and continues to serve over 9 million women, infants, and children monthly, providing food, education and access to health care. Many of the women and children who use these services are at-risk for poor nutritional diets and WIC provides them with greater access to nutritious foods as well as preventative services to improve their families' health over the long-term.

At caucus meetings, we have discussed this program and the impact of reduced spending on women across the nation. It is important for this Congress to advance ways in the upcoming budget that can ensure benefits are provided to constituencies with the greatest need.

WIC is the largest discretionary program under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and as such has been targeted for cuts in the continuing resolution. For the pregnant, postpartum and breast-feeding women who participate in WIC, as well as for their under-five children, we look forward to working together on solutions acceptable to both sides of the aisle.

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