Sign in Subscribe
Congressional representatives

House Republicans' Funding Bills Criticized for Unacceptable Cuts to WIC and FDA, Reckless Congressional Power Grab

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

At a time when families around the country are struggling to afford health care, housing, and other essentials, House Republicans have failed to provide the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) with the resources it needs to help Americans keep food on their tables. Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, delivered remarks on the House Floor highlighting the egregious cuts to WIC and the FDA, and the alarming attempts by the Trump administration to undermine Congressional power.

Key Takeaways:

  • House Republicans' Agriculture funding bill cuts investments in rural America, including grants that help hardworking Americans buy homes in rural areas, and programs to help build drinking and wastewater infrastructure in the rural communities that need it most.
  • The bill eliminates protections for small meat and poultry producers against large corporations that have dominated the market, forced small producers out of business, and price gouged consumers.
  • The Senate's proposed level of funding for WIC is $500 million over the budget request and the House bill, which House Republicans must support in order to ensure that Americans have access to healthy food.
  • The farm bill cuts funding for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to keep Americans healthy and safe from foodborne illnesses and harmful additives.
  • The House Republicans' Legislative Branch funding bill would defund the Government Accountability Office and the Library of Congress, inhibiting the ability to hold government accountable and allowing waste and fraud to run rampant.
  • The Trump administration's disregard for our nation's spending laws and Congress' power of the purse has harmed every corner of our country, and Democrats will not provide their votes to such a dangerous usurpation of Congressional power.

Statistics:

  • 15 million people will lose health care coverage due to cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act.
  • Over $500 billion in cuts to Medicare will trigger harm to America's seniors.
  • 1 million kids will go hungry due to the slashing of nutrition benefits for poor families.
  • $332 million more is needed for the FDA to protect Americans' health and safety.
  • $410 billion has been withheld from families, farmers, children, small businesses, and communities in every part of the country due to the Trump administration's disregard for Congressional power.

Sources:

  • Democrats' Appropriations, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, [rarely available link](https://democrats-appropriations.house.gov/)
  • Democrats' Appropriations, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, Remarks on the House Floor. [statement availability not guaranteed](https://democrats-appropriations.house.gov/news/statements/ranking-member-delauro-motion-instruct-conferees-reject-house-republicans-wic-cuts)

Read more