CNN's Panel on Antisemitism Was a Total Trainwreck
Reporter Gave a Laughable Reason for Why We Can't Trust Polls Now
I'm Not So Sure Bill Clinton Is the Person to Lead Point on...
CBS News' Margaret Brennan Got Wrecked By Scott Bessent and Marty Makary Over...
Watch Scott Jennings Obliterate a Reporter Over Her 'Both Sides' Nonsense on Political...
The Democrats Are the Party of Antisemitic Terrorism
Trump's New Nickname for Joe Biden Is Spectacular
If Democrats Had the Truth on Their Side They Wouldn’t Have to Lie...
They Tried to Silence a Chinese Dissident in America — It Backfired Badly
Hey You, Get Off My Crowd
Hey You, Get Off of My Crowd
Republicans Could Make History on Gun Rights
Trump Cracks Down on Arizona’s Illegal Immigrant Tuition Scheme
Fetterman Breaks with Democrats on Israel, Border, Trump Policies Amid Party Backlash
So, This Is Why ICE Agents Wear Masks
Tipsheet
Premium

Bipartisan Group of Lawmakers Blast USDA's Proposed Cuts to WIC

Allen Breed

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, also known as WIC, provides states with grants for food, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income mothers, babies, and young children who are at nutritional risk. That's why a new proposal from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that would affect this nutrition security safety net is raising bipartisan alarm. 

In November, USDA announced the proposed rule, which would reduce the amount of dairy "provided in all child, pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding participant food packages" and add "substitutions for milk" like "soy-based" yogurt and cheeses. 

In a bipartisan letter to USDA Secretary Thomas Vilsack, GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, Democrat Rep. Josh Harder of California and dozens of other lawmakers expressed their "deep concerns" about the proposed rule, which they argue "will have unintended and significant negative effects on the health of WIC participants." 

As the lawmakers state in the letter, the proposed rule would reduce the current maximum monthly allowance for milk to 12 quarts for 12-to-24-month-old children, down from 16 quarts. For 2-4-year-olds, it would be reduced to 14 quarts, down from 16 quarts, while for pregnant and partially breastfeeding moms, it would be reduced to 16 quarts, down from 22 quarts. 

At the time the rule was proposed, USDA claimed the revisions were "science-based" and "incorporate recommendations from the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025." 

But lawmakers and industry leaders are objecting. 

"Dairy products provide nutrients that are vital to the health of infants, children, mothers, and expectant mothers," the lawmakers said. "We are greatly concerned that reducing dairy in WIC food packages will negatively impact the nutritional intakes and health of program participants, as it will decrease their access to dairy's nutrients at life stages key for health and development." 

The criticism was joined by Michael Dykes, president and CEO of International Dairy Foods Association.

"USDA's proposed cuts to WIC dairy benefits put low-income mothers and children at risk of losing access to critical nutrients at a time when food costs are a major challenge for families," he said. "USDA's proposal ignores its own federal Dietary Guidelines, which say 90 percent of Americans are not consuming enough dairy to meet daily requirements. USDA must not make these cuts and instead, find ways to improve program participation by encouraging the purchase of nutritious milk and dairy. IDFA is grateful to Reps. Stefanik and Harder and the bipartisan group of representatives calling on USDA to maintain the current WIC dairy allotments in the final rule." 


Recommended

Trending on Townhall Videos

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement