The following is a statement from Georgia Machell, Interim President & CEO of the National WIC Association, in response to the United States Department of Agriculture’s report “Household Food Security in the United States in 2022”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – “This report paints a deeply troubling picture of food insecurity in the United States: tens of millions of people have trouble putting food on the table, the number of affected individuals and families is rising sharply, and we’re not doing nearly enough to help.
These findings demonstrate the vital importance of Congress fully funding WIC. Households with children and low incomes — whose rates of food insecurity are considerably higher than the national average — rely on WIC for essential nutrition and health benefits. Yet there is a wide gap between WIC’s current funding levels and what is necessary to meet growing demand for a program that now serves nearly seven million women and children. If that gap persists, families without enough to eat will continue to pay a heavy price for our neglect.
Food insecurity is not inevitable; whether it rises or falls reflects the policy choices we make as a nation. It is imperative that Congress acts quickly to put the needs of children and families first and ensure that WIC always remains available for anyone eligible to participate.”