WIC Appropriations to be Debated in the Senate Beginning This Evening
The Senate is expected to consider the Agriculture appropriations bill, which includes funding for WIC, as early as this evening. The Senate intends to add the Agriculture and Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development appropriations bills to a minibus package that had previously been passed in the House. The House appropriations minibus only included the appropriations bills for Interior and Financial Services and General Government, and the full House has yet to debate the Agriculture appropriations bill that includes WIC funding. Should the Senate pass the larger minibus, it is unclear whether the House would vote on the Senate’s proposal or consider a separate Agriculture appropriations bill at a later date.
NWA has consistently advocated for full funding of WIC at $6.3 billion, along with full funding of set-asides, including the breastfeeding peer counselor program at $90 million. Read our prior analyses of the Senate and House Agriculture appropriations bills.