With federal government shutdown entering week two, state Democrats step in to protect vital access to food and nutrition supports.

MADISON, Wis. – Today, Legislative Democrats introduced a bill to protect vital access to food and nutrition supports for Wisconsin’s pregnant women, mothers, and children. With the chaos of the Republican-led Congress, the federal government shutdown is now entering week two.

While the effects of the federal shutdown are wide-ranging, the anticipated lapse in federal funding for The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), which will bring an abrupt end to the program's benefits, is devastating to Wisconsin families. The WIC program provides essential nutrition to over 140,000 Wisconsinites. It is a vital lifeline for pregnant women, mothers, and young children. A lapse in funding would jeopardize the health and well-being of Wisconsin’s most vulnerable.

The authors of the WIC Supplemental Emergency Act issued the following statements following the bill announcement:

Rep. Renuka Mayadev (D-Madison): “With urgency, we must protect our most vulnerable Wisconsinites – our pregnant women, mothers and babies. With less than a week to go before the funding for WIC is anticipated to lapse, leaving pregnant women and mothers with nowhere to turn, we must step in and fulfill our obligation to our families. I cannot sit idly by and watch a fellow mother worry about how her infant or young child will eat. Families don’t need disruptions and instability. They want leadership. Let’s put partisan politics aside and prioritize our mothers and babies and pass this bill today.”

Sen. LaTonya Johnson (D-Milwaukee): “As a single mother who relied on WIC when I was raising my daughter, I know firsthand the importance of this program for families just trying to make it through the week while keeping their families fed. No family should have to worry about feeding their kids because Congress is fighting. This bill makes sure that our mothers and babies aren’t collateral damage, keeping food on the table and giving parents one less thing to worry about while Washington sorts through their mess.”