Please ask Your Member of Congress to Join MA Reps McGovern and Clark on the WIC Act, HR 2660 !

Our good friends at Child Health Watch are working hard on the Wise Investment in our Children (WIC) Act. HR 2660. 

One in five American children less than six years old lives in a food-insecure household – meaning he or she has inadequate access to food.  As Congress considers the re-authorization of child nutrition programs it is important to focus on where gaps remain in our nutrition safety net to better serve the nutrition needs of our growing children. Representatives Rosa DeLauro (CT) and Linda Sanchez (CA) have introduced HR 2660, the Wise Investment in our Children (WIC) Act to close this nutrition gap by increasing the age limit for WIC to age six.

WIC currently provides nutrition services for children only up to a child’s fifth birthday, when it is assumed that they will enroll in kindergarten and be eligible for school meals.  However, each school district has their own cut-off date for childrenâ€'s eligibility for kindergarten and many children do not enter school until well after their fifth birthday. Some children experience a nutritional gap of almost 12 months, in which time their nutrition is neither supported by WIC nor by school meals. Research conducted by Children’s HealthWatch has shown that for young children, WIC contributes to a healthier diet, cuts the risk of costly health problems including obesity, and decreases developmental delays.  No child should miss out on needed nutrition simply because of his/her birthdate.

30 members have co-sponsored the legislation including MA Congress members Jim McGovern and Katherine Clarke. Hey Massachusetts, let's get 100% on this bill! 

Please urge your Member of Congress to become a co-sponsor, and please THANK McGovern and Clark for signing on!  Your House member can contact Kelly Horton in Rep. DeLauro’s office with any questions and to be added to the list: Kelly.horton@mail.house.gov or (202) 225-3661

Current Sponsors - H.R. 2660 Wise Investment in our Children (WIC) Act.