Frank Pallone: “after weeks of resistance the Republican leadership yesterday finally allowed the House to vote to provide the full $76…”

“after weeks of resistance the Republican leadership yesterday finally allowed the House to vote to provide the full $76 million in funding needed to keep thousands of children and pregnant women enrolled in the Women, Infants, and Children, or WIC, nutrition program. I must say, we are far from home free on this issue. The Senate, unfortunately, has provided only $58 million for WIC, and Democrats today will offer a resolution on the House floor stating that the House should stand firm in its negotiations and demand that the Senate agree to restore funding for the remaining 85,000 at-risk women and children. Republicans also voted yesterday for automatic cuts that could undermine the commitment for WIC by freezing funding for it at current levels, this year's level. The President has made it clear he will veto this funding bill if that is what it includes, but I have to say that we still have a lot of work to do to make sure that the full funding is provided for WIC. The Democrats are determined that we will see that through and there will be full funding for the WIC Program.”