End Hunger Now

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, WIC provides pregnant and postpartum moms and their babies with healthy food. It increases nutrition, reduces premature births, and improves access to healthcare for moms and babies.

That is why, Mr. Speaker, I find it unconscionable that Republicans in this Chamber passed a bill earlier this month that slashes funding for the program by $200 million. The bill takes away money for nutritious fruits and vegetables and would force WIC providers to turn away eligible families for the first time in 30 years.

Then, 1 week later, Republicans gave $70 billion to make a slush fund for ICE and CBP. When it comes to giving $200 million, that is less than 0.1 percent of that number, to hungry kids, Republicans said that we ran out of money.

What the hell is wrong with these people, Mr. Speaker?

I thought they wanted to make America healthy again. You can't be healthy if you are hungry, Mr. Speaker, and the Republican Agriculture appropriations bill will make hunger worse.

I will fight tooth and nail for the Senate to restore the fruit and vegetable voucher and reverse these cuts to WIC. Let's work together to actually make America healthy and end hunger now.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source