Congressman Mackenzie Applauds Administration Efforts to Safeguard WIC
Washington, D.C. — Congressman Ryan Mackenzie, representing the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District, has sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins thanking the administration for stepping up to protect the Women, Infants, and Children Supplementary Nutrition Program (WIC). Funding for the WIC program was poised to run out in many states as a result of Senate Democrats’ decision to shut down the government. The White House recently took steps to divert $300 million of tariff revenue to WIC in order to keep the program functioning. Congress previously provided a $500 million increase to the WIC budget in the continuing resolution passed in March.
The letter was co-signed by Reps. Andy Barr (R-KY), Stephanie Bice (R-OK), Monica De La Cruz (R-TX), Randy Fine (R-FL), Young Kim (R-CA), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), and Michael Rulli (R-OH).
“As the government shutdown stretches into its third week, millions of working families are beginning to feel the impacts,” said Congressman Ryan Mackenzie. “The 6.7 million women and children who rely on WIC don’t deserve to be pawns in partisan political games, especially not when basic nutritional needs are on the line. The decision by the Trump Administration to safeguard this critical program may not bring Senate Democrats closer to opening the government, but it is the right thing to do for the American people.”
“The WIC program is a lifeline for millions of women, infants, and children across America. It helps low-income families access the nutrition they need for a healthy life,” said Congressman Fine. “At a time when Senate Democrats are playing politics with critical programs by keeping the government closed over free healthcare for illegal immigrants, Secretary Rollins’ leadership has ensured WIC remains protected. Her decisive action shows what it means to put families over partisanship. I'm proud to join Congressman Mackenzie for recognizing USDA's work on this and rallying congressional support for this effort."
“Vulnerable moms and babies should not go hungry because Washington Democrats refuse to open our government,” said Rep. Young Kim. “I applaud President Trump for taking necessary measures to continue the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, and ensure the most vulnerable aren’t hit by the Schumer shutdown. It’s time for Senate Democrats to put hardworking families, small businesses, and everyday Americans first and vote to end this shutdown once and for all.”
Congressman Mackenzie also addressed the escalating problems that are appearing as a result of the shutdown, as well as the dwindling options for addressing them.
“There will not be a band-aid for every crisis caused by the Schumer Shutdown,” said Congressman Mackenzie. “The quick thinking of this administration has made it possible to pay our servicemembers and provide nutritional assistance to families, but a litany of additional problems loom on the horizon. The longer Senate Democrats persist in blocking a bipartisan, clean bill to fund the government, the more pain working families will be forced to endure.”
Read the letter HERE
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