Cass Ballenger: “I rise in support of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, better known as WIC, a…”

“I rise in support of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, better known as WIC, a program that has been providing short-term, low-cost preventive health services to young families who are at risk due to low income or nutritionally-related health conditions for 25 years. Studies have shown that pregnant women who participate in WIC have longer pregnancies leading to fewer premature births, have fewer low-birth-weight babies, experience few infant deaths, and seek prenatal care earlier in their pregnancy. And when I say it is cost effective, let me point out some real numbers to my colleagues. It costs $22,000 a pound to raise a low or very low-birth-weight baby to normal weight, costs that are often covered by Medicaid. It costs only $40 per pound to provide WIC prenatal benefits. These figures show that WIC is making a real difference. I want to thank those who have made the program a success and wish WIC a happy 25th birthday.”