John,

When Congress passed a stop-gap spending bill to continue funding some government programs through January 19, 2024, there was a huge omission: they did not include additional aid to fully fund the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)―a nutrition program that is targeted to the critical life stages of pregnancy and postpartum and birth through the age of 5.

Now, with less than 10 days left to pass funding bills and avoid a partial government shutdown, funding for WIC is at risk and―for the first time in a generation―eligible applicants may be turned away.

WIC serves 6.5 million participants each month―including an estimated 39% of all infants in the United States.¹ Infants make up 22.8% of all WIC recipients, while other young children are 54.8% of participants and pregnant and postpartum women at 22.4%.² On a bipartisan basis, Congress has fully funded WIC for more than 25 years. We must continue that long-standing commitment to make sure WIC can serve every low-income family who seeks assistance with the full science-based benefit.

We cannot allow millions of women, infants, and children to go hungry in the richest nation on earth. Send a direct message to Congress demanding they adequately fund WIC ASAP.

WIC payments to local agencies just went out so the effects of a government shutdown won’t be immediately felt by program participants―but we need to raise our voices today. If Congress doesn’t act soon to increase funding, WIC programs will be forced to turn away an estimated 2 million parents and young children later this year.³

Early access to healthy and nutritious food is critical for both fetal and child development. Access to WIC is associated with healthier birth rates, lower risk of infant death, and improved child cognitive function and overall health. Postpartum mothers, infants, and children shouldn’t have to go hungry in the richest country in the world.

With WIC participation dramatically increasing while families face higher food costs over previous years, Congress must act to ensure millions are not turned away from the program.

Rush a message to Congress today telling them to adequately fund WIC for the entire year.

Thank you for all you do,

Deborah Weinstein
Executive Director, Coalition on Human Needs

¹ WIC Data Tables
² Total participation in WIC increased in fiscal year 2022, first rise in more than a decade
³ About 2 Million Parents and Young Children Could Be Turned Away From WIC by September Without Full Funding