Virginia Foxx: “One of the bills that will seek consideration under this open rule is H.R. 5973, which primarily funds agriculture and…”

“One of the bills that will seek consideration under this open rule is H.R. 5973, which primarily funds agriculture and nutrition programs. The legislation contains discretionary funding, as well as required mandatory funding for food and nutrition programs within the Department of Agriculture. This includes funding for the special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants, and Children, or WIC, the food stamp, or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP, and the child nutrition programs. The bill provides $6.9 billion in discretionary funding for WIC, which, contrary to what liberals suggest, is $303.5 million above last year's level. This program provides supplemental nutritional foods needed by pregnant and nursing mothers, babies, and young children. Language is included for oversight and monitoring requirements to ensure the proper use of taxpayer dollars, as well as food price tracking to ensure necessary resources continue serving those eligible for program benefits. The bill provides for $19.7 billion in required mandatory funding outside of the discretionary funding jurisdiction of the Appropriations Committee for child nutrition programs, which is $1.5 billion above last year's level. The bill provides for $80 billion in required mandatory spending, which is, again, outside of the discretionary funding jurisdiction of the Appropriations Committee, for SNAP, the food stamp program. This is $408 million below last year's level.…”