As reported by The Hagstrom Report, Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-NM, the Chair of the Senate Ag Approps Subcommittee, “emphasized funding for child nutrition programs, particularly the Special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), which the House version of the bill would cut particularly the fruit and vegetable benefit.” In round numbers, the traditional savings for WIC benefits results in $4 for every dollar WIC costs; the savings come from money saved in future expenditures for aftercare costs. Hungry babies and weakened (from a lack of healthy food) mothers need more time in the hospital and longer-term medical care than do those who do not suffer from hunger.
The Hagstrom Report emphasized the bill has strong bipartisan support: “Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., the ranking member on the subcommittee, added, “Our farmers and ranchers provide the highest quality, lowest cost food supply in the world. As the ranking member of Agriculture Appropriations, we worked to ensure that this legislation supports our producers, invests in agriculture research and strengthens rural America.”
“Sen. Susan Collins, the ranking member on the full committee, said, “This important legislation will assist America’s farmers, invest in critical agricultural and medical research, and support rural communities across the country. As the vice chairman of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to champion this funding as the appropriations process moves forward.”