Dick Durbin: “Most people, when they hear the budget for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, think in terms of farmers and ranchers…”

“Most people, when they hear the budget for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, think in terms of farmers and ranchers and do not think about the other major responsibilities of the department. The gentleman from New Mexico [Mr. Skeen] properly noted the responsibility of this department in the area of nutrition. One of the programs that I have focused on in my tenure in the House of Representatives, serving on the subcommittee, is the WIC Program, the supplemental feeding program for women infants and children. It is a program which is designed to help low-income mothers during their pregnancy and, after they have given birth, to raise healthy children. I happen to think it is one of the single most important investments that U.S. taxpayers make.”