WIC Needs Your Help
Current proposed funding levels for WIC in both the House and Senate are inadequate to keep pace with increased participation. Unless Congress acts quickly to ensure that WIC is fully funded, the program may be forced to turn 600,000 eligible postpartum individuals with low incomes and their young children away from WIC.
To avoid interruption in participation, benefits, or services Congress must include additional funding (a down payment) for WIC in the next short-term spending bill (continuing resolution or CR), and fully fund it in the final Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 appropriations package.
Take Action! Make sure your members of Congress know that you want WIC to be fully funded!
There are many ways to get involved:
- Call your Member of Congress! Use our Find Your Legislator tool to look up your legislators, then call Congress at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to the correct office.
- Send an email directly to your member of Congress by using FRAC’s Action Network.
- Get loud on social media! Make sure your network knows that WIC Works and needs to be funded! Find your Member of Congress and be sure to tag them!
If you need help shaping your message, see our sample language below.
Sample Language for a Call Or an Email
Hello, my name is NAME and I live in CITY. I’m CALLING/WRITING to ask LEGISLATOR to speak out on behalf of low-income Pennsylvania families and WIC. Congress must include additional funding for WIC in the next short term spending bill and fully fund it in the final Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations package. WIC is a proven program with a track record of reducing hunger, improving diet quality, and preventing disease. If action is not taken, 600,000 young parents and children are at risk of missing out on this science-based benefit. Please act quickly to secure this funding. Thank you.
Sample Language for Twitter (X):
WIC is a proven program that reduces hunger, improves diet quality, & prevents disease. (@ Twitter(X) handle of your Congressmember), Congress must include additional funding for WIC in the next short term spending bill & fully fund it in the final Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations package.
Want to Learn More About WIC?
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) improves the health and nutrition of eligible participants by providing nutrition services, breastfeeding support, health care and social services, and healthy foods. Decades of research have shown that WIC is highly effective, supporting better birth outcomes, healthier diets, and breastfeeding. Participation in WIC has also been shown to increase food security, immunization rates, and access to health care. These benefits result in tangible economic impact: each $1 in WIC spending leads to about $2.50 in health care savings. The bottom line: WIC works.
Check out FRAC’s Fact sheet to learn more about this funding crisis. Or, see how WIC helps those in your county by visiting Thriving PA’s statewide or county fact sheets.