The threat of hunger edition. Back in the 1970s, Sens. Robert Dole (R-KS) and George McGovern (D-S.D.) worked together to advance the cause of nutrition assistance for low-income Americans. First, they cosponsored a bill that comprehensively reformed and improved food stamps. Then they came together again to help create the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). Finally, they stepped in to protect and expand the National School Lunch Program.
There were two key takeaways from the Senators’ works. First, and most obvious, the federal government has an important role to play in fighting hunger. And second, such efforts can and should be bipartisan. Hunger is not an issue that affects one political party and the solutions for ending hunger likewise should not rest solely on one side of the aisle.
Sadly, such bipartisan comity largely has evaporated, at least when it comes to the House side of Congress. Right-wingers already have pushed through a measure that will result in people losing SNAP benefits. Now they have turned their sights on WIC, which serves more than 6 million infants, young children and mothers each year.
As you will see when you scroll down, the House GOP is proposing massive cuts to WIC, “potentially forcing eligible children and new moms onto waiting lists for the first time in nearly 30 years,” according to First Focus on Children. “The House proposal also slashed funding for WIC’s enormously successful fruit and vegetable benefit, reducing access to fruits and vegetables by 56 percent for children and approximately 70 percent for pregnant women and new moms – marking the first time in the program’s nearly 50-year history that Congress has suggested cutting WIC benefits for families in order to defray program costs.”
If one wonders why former Sens. Dole and McGovern would be turning in their graves right now, one need only turn to a recent research paper produced by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. CBPP writes that WIC participation “is linked to significant benefits for health, nutrition, and developmental outcomes.”
“That includes fewer premature births, fewer infant deaths, improved diet quality, lower prevalence of food insecurity, higher rates of childhood immunization, better access to health care, and numerous other benefits,” CBPP states. “A funding shortfall would mean eligible low-income people would lose out on these benefits.”
Call Congress. Tell your Representative: no cuts to WIC, no taking food away from moms and their babies and young children. Click here.
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The House GOP agriculture spending bill provides funding of $17.8 billion for the next fiscal year. That’s nearly $8 billion below what was provided for the current year – plus it’s the lowest funding level since 2007. Tweet this.
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Under the House GOP proposal, WIC participants would receive only $11 to $15 per month to purchase healthy produce, depending on whether they are young children, or new or breastfeeding moms. That’s a 56 to 70 percent cut compared to current levels. Tweet this.
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