New York’s junior U.S. senator is calling for additional funding for a federal nutrition program geared towards women and children. Kirsten Gillibrand recently issued a letter to House and Senate leadership in her push for $1.4 billion for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). During a recent video conference call with reporters, the New York Democrat said the funding would remedy a shortfall that could leave two million women and children, including 424,000 New Yorkers, without food assistance…

Kirsten Gillibrand: how it would affect women and children

Gillibrand adds that if Congress fails to act, states will also likely be forced to reduce outreach, limit clinic hours, and leave staff vacancies unfilled to reduce spending, which will reduce participation in the program and prevent low-income families from accessing critical WIC services.