Women and Children's Nutrition: America's Best Investment

This month marks the 45th anniversary of the Supreme Court case Goldberg v. Kelly, which held that some public benefits are so essential to human survival that they cannot be legally terminated without a formal notice and a hearing. This month also marks the start of Congress' annual appropriations season, the time when Members of Congress deliberate over what to fund for the next fiscal year, and, regrettably, a time when many of the safety net programs that the Supreme Court deemed so essential come under threat from our colleagues. In this year's appropriations process, we have a simple message: Providing a safety net is not only morally right but fiscally responsible. This is especially true of the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) which is effective in addressing urgent human needs and critical for empowering the next generation of citizens and workers.

Since Congress voted to establish WIC in 1972, the program has provided nutrition education and vouchers for nutrient-rich food items to pregnant, breastfeeding and post-partum women, infants, and young children to promote healthy growth and development. Numerous studies have demonstrated that mothers who participate in the program have fewer premature births, a greater likelihood of healthy birth-weight babies, fewer infant deaths, and higher intake of key prenatal nutrients including iron, protein, calcium, and Vitamins A and C.

This isn't just important for women's wellbeing. It's essential for our nation's long-term health and economic prospects.

By John Conyers, Jr. and Gwen Moore

Dean of the U.S.. House
of Representatives
John Conyers, Jr.

Nutrition and care during the 1,000 days between conception and a child's second birthday are the biggest determinants of whether a child is able to lead a healthy and prosperous life. Poor nutrition and low birthweight have been linked to conditions including heart disease and diabetes. Infants and children who lack the nutrients WIC provides also lack absolute prerequisites for healthy brain development. It should therefore come as no surprise that international studies have shown that poor access to nutrition among young children can cost can a country 2-3 percent of GDP due to lower productivity.

Funding WIC is a proven way to fight poverty now and to invest in America's future.

That's why we recently took the lead in submitting -- with support from 116 Members of Congress -- a request to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture to provide $6.68 billion for the coming fiscal year. This funding level will help this program meet current and future caseload needs and ensure that millions of participants can maintain access to the scientifically appropriate WIC food package.

While some in Congress have recently sought to cut funding for WIC, we contend that this approach is both callous and counterproductive. With our country ranking poorlyin international comparisons for child and maternal health, proper funding for WIC is a matter of America's standing in the world. Domestically, it's a proven way to lower future health care costs, increase education attainment, and boost workforce productivity. All this expands the economy and shrinks future deficits.

Forty-five years after the Supreme Court took a stand against the summary denial of key safety net benefits, it's clearer than ever that programs like WIC are not only essential for families' survival but also for the nation's long-run health and prosperity.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

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Conyers Joins Rally Opposing Chained CPI Social Security Benefit Cut; Urges Republicans Not to Oppose Raising the Debt Limit

(WASHINGTON) – Today, Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) rallied with Members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and retiree advocates against the proposed Chained CPI Social Security benefit cut. Under the Chained CPI proposal, at age 75, a senior’s benefits would be cut by about $660 per year on average.  At age 85, those benefits would be cut by about $1,150 per year, and at age 95, by about $1,600 per year. Republicans in Congress have repeatedly demanded that any increase in the nation’s debt limit should be tied to cuts to social insurance programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security.  Following the rally, Rep. Conyers issued the following statement:

“On several occasions over the past three years, Republicans in Congress have held the full faith and credit of the United States hostage when an increase in the nation’s debt ceiling is required. They plan to once more push through unpopular cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security as a price for raising the debt limit. Republicans support a terrible proposal, known as Chained CPI.  Under this formula, the average Social Security retiree would see his or her benefits cut by $500 a year after 10 years. After 20 years, the average benefit would be cut by about $1,000 a year. Some have argued that the Chained CPI is a necessary compromise, so that we can address the debt and end the threat posed by the sequester. I would suggest that penalizing our most vulnerable by cutting a program that, by law, cannot add to the deficit, is not a compromise worth making,” said Conyers.

“What Congress must do with the sequester is repeal it. My legislation, the ‘Cancel the Sequester Act,’ would do just that.

“Instead of penalizing seniors, veterans, youth, and young people, Congress should be pursuing policies that create full employment and strengthen the health and retirement benefits of all Americans. Why cut Social Security benefits when we can eliminate the cap on the payroll tax contributions of our wealthiest Americans?

“I suppose we shouldn’t be surprised by the callous attitude exhibited by some Republicans when it comes to the well-being of working families and middle-class Americans.  In the current government shutdown fiasco, Republicans have directed their energy toward reopening our national parks, while at the same time turning an indifferent, cold shoulder to the youngsters shut out of the Headstart program and vulnerable women and children who will lose their nutritional assistance provided by the WIC program.    

“I join my colleagues and all who believe in fundamental fairness to oppose Chained CPI and the government shutdown because my conscience will not allow me to stay silent on an issue that has the potential to harm the lives of so many. What we should do is re-open the government immediately, raise the debt limit, put forth a clean continuing resolution, and let all the new healthcare beneficiaries enroll in the Affordable Care Act – because it is now the law of the land.”

Rep. Conyers, alongside progressive Congressmen and advocates, rallying against Chained CPI.

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The Impact of Sequestration on Women, Children and Families

(WASHINGTON) – This afternoon, Representative John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) issued the following statement on the devastating impact that automatic end of year budget cuts, mandated by the Budget Control Act of 2011, would have on women, children and families:

“I rise today as the voice for millions of women, children and low income families to urge my colleagues to work towards a balanced approach to deficit reduction that does not include deeper cuts to programs designed to promote and protect the health of women and children,” said Conyers.

“By eliminating nearly one billion dollars in federal funding, if implemented, this 8.2 percent across the board cut would drastically hinder access to critical health care services delivered to mothers and babies in need, stunt the impact and development of prevention initiatives, reduce vital funding for medical research, and disproportionately impact low-income and uninsured families. 

“Additionally, it would significantly reduce funding for critical programs important to the development of children such as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC),  the Title V Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant, the Section 317 Immunization Program, the Children’s Hospital Graduate Medical Education program, the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Visitation Program, the Prevention and Public Health Fund, Safe Motherhood, and the National Institutes Child Health and Human Development.  In Michigan alone these cuts would result in 20,700 mothers and young children being cut from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and over $1 million cut from the Children’s Hospitals Graduate Medical Education program, which the state relies heavily on to train its next generation of pediatricians. 

“Playing a game of chicken with budget sequestration is despicable and we must work toward a fair and plausible resolution of this issue that does not trade away the health and well being of our children.

“Furthermore, children depend on healthy moms and millions of women rely on federally funded programs like Title X Family Planning for basic health and prenatal care.  However, this looming budget sequestration would jeopardize the health of these women by inhibiting access to critical health services, thereby increasing the risk of life-threatening cancer and other diseases that could have been prevented by health screenings offered through Title X services.  In Michigan, 2,700 fewer women will be screened for cancer as a result of the sequestration’s cut of over $712,800 from the Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program.

“Lastly, women’s health would not only be impacted, but also women’s economic well-being.  These automatic cuts will create overwhelming job loss at a time when both men and women struggle to find work due to no fault of their own. Moreover, sequestration cuts coupled with the persistent gender wage gap is a recipe for disaster that middle and lower income families cannot afford.  Therefore, I will not casually stand by while my colleagues threaten unbearable sacrifices that disproportionately impact the well being of children, women and their families.  I urge that with compassionate hearts, we work together to alleviate current suffering and pursue a legislative solution that does not target non-defense discretionary programs for additional cuts.”

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