April 9, 2024
By News Team
WASHINGTON, D.C. – New rule changes for WIC, a federal program that helps with groceries for low income mothers and their children, were announced on Tuesday, which include a boost in monthly cash vouchers for fruits and vegetables.
But one federal lawmaker who represents the North Country is criticizing the Biden Administration over some of these changes, specifically regarding an adjustment that will reduce the amount of milk available to families utilizing the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.
“Families are already struggling with skyrocketing prices due to Bidenflation and the Biden Administration’s new rule would limit their access to the healthy milk products our dairy farmers in Upstate New York and the North Country work hard to provide to our communities,” Congresswoman Elise Stefanik said.
Read her full statement below:
“Joe Biden’s WIC restrictions will cause significant negative effects on the health of babies, mothers, and families participating in WIC to access nutritious milk products,” said Congresswoman Elise Stefanik. “Families are already struggling with skyrocketing prices due to Bidenflation and the Biden Administration’s new rule would limit their access to the healthy milk products our dairy farmers in Upstate New York and the North Country work hard to provide to our communities. I will continue to work to ensure our new mothers and developing children have access to nutrient rich milk.”
According to a release from Stefanik’s office, she reportedly led a bipartisan letter to United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack calling on him to oppose the proposed rule that would reduce the amount of milk available to WIC families.
According to numerous reports that have surfaced, the new WIC rules will provide $26 per-month food vouchers for children ages 1-4; $47 per-month for pregnant and postpartum women and $52 per-month for breastfeeding women.
With that said, the changes also expand access to whole grains, while in the meantime removing or reducing monthly allowances for juice and cutting back on allowances for milk.
Announced by the Food and Nutrition Service, most of these rule changes will occur over the next two-years, with some exceptions.
“WIC has a half-century track record of caring for young families. USDA and the Biden-Harris Administration are committed to ensuring that moms, babies and young children continue to thrive through WIC,” said Secretary Vilsack.
“These participant-centered changes will strengthen WIC by ensuring the foods participants receive reflect the latest nutrition science to support healthy eating and the brightest futures.”
