News

House Republicans Propose Funding Cuts For Food Assistance For Women & Children

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 30: Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) shakes hands with former U.S. President Donald Trump during the Moms for Liberty Joyful Warriors national summit at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown on June 30, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The self-labeled "parental rights" summit is bringing school board hopefuls from across the country where attendees will receive training and hear from Republican presidential candidates which include former U.S. President Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley. The summit, which is being held in an overwhelmingly Democratic Philadelphia, has drawn protestors since the event was announced due to their pushing of book bans accusing schools of ideological overreach, including teaching about race, gender, and sexuality. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Following efforts to roll back on food stamps in the debt ceiling deal, House Republicans are now coming after WIC, the food assistance program for low-income women, infants and children.

GOP lawmakers have proposed cutting funding for WIC — which serves about 6.6 million people — in their annual spending bill. They seek to reduce funding for the upcoming fiscal year by $185 million and limit thousands of families’ ability to buy fresh fruit and vegetables.

The measure could result in up to 750,000 women and children being turned away or put on waitlists, which has not been done since 1997.

Though the appropriations subcommittee that crafted the bill is already led by conservative Rep. Andy Harris (R-Maryland), other House Republicans are looking to push the bill even further to the right by offering other amendments that would roll back on food assistance.

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!

A week of political news in your in-box.
We find the news you need to know, so you don't have to.

For example, Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Florida) proposed to expand the work requirements for certain adults in the food stamps program, raising the age threshold from 49 to 64. Other measures would restrict exempting recipients from the work requirement and allow states to obtain waivers if there’s a lack of jobs in the area.

Efforts to undercut such programs are only the latest in a series of conservative legislation aimed at Democratic issues. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia) wants to prohibit funding for drugs that disrupt puberty or sexual development of minors and for sex-altering surgical procedures for minors.

Other proposals would stop any money from going to the World Health Organization and eliminate funding for the USDA’s rental assistance program.

Ava Lombardi