Chairs of Leading Congressional Caucuses Lead Letter to Leadership Urging Full Funding for WIC

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Nanette Barragán, Congressional Black Caucus Chair Steven Horsford, and Democratic Women’s Caucus Chair Lois Frankel led a letter to Congressional leadership calling for additional emergency funding in the next short-term spending bill and full funding for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children program (WIC) in the final FY 2024 agriculture appropriations legislation.

This letter comes at a critical point when millions of low-income children and women are at risk of losing significant portions of their benefits, and 600,000 young children and postpartum women -- a disproportionate number of who are Black women – are on the verge of being turned away from WIC when they apply for these critical benefits. . This looming shortfall was sparked due to recent unprecedented financial constraints caused by a rise in program participation and food costs and comes amid House Republicans attempts to cut WIC despite the critical need to bolster the program. 

“For nearly three decades, states have not had to turn away new applicants or participants for the WIC program. This will no longer be the case if additional funding is not secured in FY24,” wrote the lawmakers. “WIC is one of America’s most effective nutritional assistance programs and public health success stories. If increased funding is not secured, the physical well-being of millions of low-income children and women are at massive risk. The effect of this cut will fall disproportionately on Black and Hispanic families. Congress must safeguard these individuals from any potential harm.” 

“There are currently more than 1.5 million Hispanic children and 750,000 Black children aged one through four who participate in WIC. Without additional funding, these children, including the 350,000 Hispanic and the 160,000 Black three-year-olds, could be turned away when they turn four,” concluded the lawmakers.

For nearly 49 years, WIC has provided critical nutrition benefits, breastfeeding support, and other vital services to low-income pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and children under five years of age who are at nutritional risk. WIC is administered at the federal level by the Food and Nutrition Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Read the full text of the letter.

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