John,

The stopgap funding bill to keep the government funded, which was passed by Congress in September, expires on November 17th.

Unless immediate action is taken by Congress in the next two weeks, WIC will experience a funding shortfall in early 2024 that will result in some women and children being turned away from the program and/or their benefits being cut.

In the richest country in the world, pregnant and postpartum mothers, infants, and children should not go hungry―not anytime, and especially not during winter.

Today, CHN is joining with our national allies in a nationwide WIC Day of action.

Send a message to Congress, calling on them to include a down payment for additional funding for WIC in the next Continuing Resolution (CR) and fund the program so that no families are left behind.

The demand for WIC is skyrocketing and, coupled with increased food prices, there isn’t a bill in the House or Senate that would allow all women and children who apply to be served by the program and receive current benefits unless additional funding is passed.

WIC supports people during important life stages―during and after pregnancy, and from birth through 4 yrs―by providing nutritious foods, referrals to health care, and other services. If Congress doesn’t fully fund the program, states may be forced to turn away 600,000 people during critical windows for child development.[1]

Black parents are more likely than any other group to be turned away from WIC if Congress fails to provide adequate funding, causing further harm for a group already at higher risk for pregnancy-related health conditions.[2]

The Federal Budget is a moral document outlining what we as a nation choose to invest in, and these investments affect individuals and communities across the country. We must focus on priorities that bring about shared and broad prosperity such as investing in the most vulnerable among us and their families.

Join us in calling on Congress to take immediate action by putting additional funding for WIC in the next CR and fully funding the program for 2024.

Thank you for all you do,

Deborah Weinstein
Executive Director, Coalition on Human Needs

[1] Young Children and New Parents in Every State Could Be Turned Away From WIC or Have Their Benefits Cut Under Pending Appropriations Bills
[2] Looming WIC Funding Shortfall Would Jeopardize Access to WIC’s Proven Benefits and Disproportionately Harm Black and Hispanic Families