WASHINGTON (TNS) — Pennsylvania Democrats and the Biden administration are pressing congressional leaders to fully fund the federal nutrition assistance program for women, infants and children as they hammer out a budget deal, with the program facing a $1 billion shortfall that could jeopardize the benefits of more than 50,000 Pennsylvanians.
Congress last year agreed to short-term fixes to avoid federal government shutdowns, and kept funding for WIC at about $6 billion.
But the most recent budget deal expires in eight days, and without additional funding to keep pace with WIC’s rising participation rates, officials say states may have to cut participation by almost 2 million eligible children and pregnant and postpartum women nationwide by September.
About 51,000 of those that might be cut are from Pennsylvania — more than a quarter of the almost 180,000 participants in the state, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a nonpartisan research group.
On Wednesday, more than 150 lawmakers, including Pennsylvania Democratic Sens. Bob Casey, John Fetterman, and Reps. Chris Deluzio, D-Aspinwall, and Summer Lee, D-Swissvale, wrote to Senate and House leadership and urged them to include more funding for WIC in their final budget agreement.
“WIC is a vital lifeline for millions of vulnerable American families,” they wrote. “It provides nutritious foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, health care referrals and other important services to nearly 7 million low-income pregnant and postpartum participants, infants and young children nationwide.”
They added that WIC has received strong bipartisan support for 25 years.
Congressional leaders have not committed to fully funding WIC as part of their most recent budget talks. And Republicans last year sought to reduce the program’s funding and cut by more than half the amount that participants receive through the program’s fruit and vegetable benefit, according to CNN.
Women and families have increasingly relied on the program for supplemental food and health services in the wake of the pandemic and as grocery prices remain high.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health told the Post-Gazette that the potential shortfall leaves those relying on WIC services uneasy, and that it’s “hopeful that Congress will pass a full federal fiscal year budget soon.” The department said it’s been staying in constant communication with USDA as the current short-term budget deal expires on Jan. 19.
Tom Vilsack, U.S. secretary of agriculture, told reporters in a press call on Thursday that Congress has indicated to his agency and states that they should spend current funding at a faster rate to serve those eligible for the first half of the fiscal year, without providing funds to cover the program once those resources dry up.
“It is critical that Congress provides additional funding for WIC in January,” he said. “The longer Congress puts off fully funding WIC, the greater the risk grows to moms, babies and children who need and are seeking nutrition and health support from the program.”
State officials in Pennsylvania warned last September that funds for the program would start to dwindle if the government shuts down, impacting almost 180,000 Pennsylvanians, including 97,269 children and 40,735 infants.
Without longer-term funding, states and local WIC programs will likely have to implement waiting lists for applicants, “curtail outreach and cross-enrollment efforts, reduce clinic hours, leave staff vacancies unfilled, and take other measures to slow enrollment and limit spending,” the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities said.
