Political Quotes

“Mr. president, every fifth child in America lives in poverty. Fifteen percent of our homeless population are children. Their numbers are increasing faster than any other segment of the homeless population. Better than four in 10 recipients of emergency food assistance are children. I am joined today by my friend and colleague, Senator Jim Jeffords, in introducing a resolution that expresses a bipartisan effort to reverse these trends. Vermont puts partisan differences aside when it comes to feeding children. In a show of support for the Women, Infants and Children [WIC] feeding program, Vermont will be the first State in the union to mark the twentieth anniversary of this program. WIC deserves special recognition. It feeds hungry infants and children, prevents low birthweight, reduces anemia and increases childhood immunizations. WIC ranks among the most successful nutrition and health programs anywhere. It dispenses food, educates the public on proper nutrition, health assessments and medically prescribed supplements. It also saves the American taxpayer lots of money. The resolution that Mr. Jeffords and I offer today guarantees that full funding of the WIC program will be included in any health care reform approved by Congress.”