Leaders of the Senate Appropriations Committee unveiled a short-term government funding bill on Tuesday that would allow the USDA to provide full benefits to the 6.7 million participants of the Women, Infants, and Children nutrition program. A test vote showed strong Senate support for the bipartisan bill.
Senate Appropriations chair Patty Murray said the bill ensures WIC “will continue to be able to serve the nearly 7 million women and children who rely on it” by allowing USDA a freer hand in spending money on it. The seven-week Senate bill prorates federal outlays for most programs at fiscal 2023 levels. But enrollment and costs of WIC have been higher than projected when money was appropriated months ago. The Biden administration has requested a $1.4 billion increase for WIC in fiscal 2024, which begins on Sunday.
The Senate bill also extends the mandatory livestock price reporting program for seven weeks and prevents a pay cut for wildland firefighters.
WIC provides supplemental food packages and health care referrals to pregnant women, new mothers, and children up to age 5 in low-income households.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said on Monday that WIC would run out of money within days of a government shutdown, which could occur on Sunday.