Herb Kohl: “I want to say that I believe the chairman and ranking member of the Subcommittee have done an excellent job in putting…”

“I want to say that I believe the chairman and ranking member of the Subcommittee have done an excellent job in putting together this bill under very difficult budgetary circumstances. They have done an exceptional job of protecting core programs that are of utmost importance to the Nation's farmers, consumers, and communities. There is one provision in this bill that I think is of great importance and deserves special mention, and that is the language with regard to cost containment for the WIC program. I think it's fair to say that every Member of the Senate supports the WIC program. The long-term benefits accruing to society from ensuring adequate pre-natal and neo-natal nutrition have been well documented and uncontested. A large portion of the cost of the WIC program is associated with the purchase of infant formula for WIC recipients. Fortunately, in recent years competition between formula manufacturers bidding for WIC contracts has led to significant savings in the program, with companies offering rebates on infant formula in order to win WIC contracts. Unfortunately, the competition that led to these rebates has been greatly diminished by the recent withdrawal by one of the competitors, Wyeth Laboratories, from the WIC infant formula market. Fortunately, another formula manufacturer, Carnation, has recently entered the WIC formula market, which could help ensure competition and therefore help contain the costs of the program.”