House Passes WIC Reauthorization Bill

July 22, 1998

To: Child Nutrition and Social Justice Advocates
From: Bernadine G. McRipley, Associate for Domestic Issues

On July 20, the director of the Presbyterian Washington Office sent a letter to all 100 Senators in the U.S. Congress urging them to reauthorize the child nutrition and WIC programs bill (S. 2286). The letter cited the 1996 General Assembly statement on "Childhood Hunger in the U.S."

The House of Representatives, on July 20 by a vote of 383-1, passed H.R. 3874, the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Amendments of 1998. While not identical, both the House and Senate bills will expand nutrition programs to substantially more low-income children.

The Senate bill is awaiting floor action. Child advocates are encouraging the Senators to take action before the August recess, August 10 to September 8. It is important to press for this to be done before the recess, because Congress is scheduled to adjourn on October 9. In September, therefore, there will be a flurry to finish all legislative business for the 105th Congress before the national elections in November. Thus S. 2286 has a better chance of passing if it is done BEFORE the August recess. CONTACT YOUR SENATORS AND ASK THEM TO VOTE FOR THIS BILL.

If you would like a chart summarizing the key provisions of both bills, please call the PC(USA) Washington Office immediately at (202) 543-1126 and ask that it be faxed to you. In addition to the items listed in the chart, the Senate bill is expected to include report language that:

Directs USDA, in consultation with the National Association of WIC Directors (NAWD), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), to publish within a year a revised WIC blood work schedule that brings WIC blood work requirements in line with the standard well-child pediatric schedule.

Directs USDA, in consultation with NAWD, CDC, AAP, and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officers (ASTHO), to develop in an expeditious manner a strategic plan for WIC immunization linkage.

Write or Phone:

You can reach your lawmakers by calling the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121. If you prefer to write, send AS SOON AS POSSIBLE to:

Honorable ___________
U.S. Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510

Honorable ___________
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515

General Assembly Guidance:

The 1996 General Assembly approved a commissioners' resolution "On Overcoming Childhood Hunger in the United States." It calls for all candidates for President and the U.S. Congress if elected, to vote for and approve legislation and to support federal programs that will help overcome childhood hunger in the United States.