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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: (202.293.1649) JEWISH COUNCIL FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS REAFFIRMS ITS SUPPORT FOR THE WIC PROGRAM ON ITS 25TH ANNIVERSARY (New York - May 3, 1999) - The Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) has reaffirmed its strong and continued support for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), which offers food, nutrition counseling and access to health services to low-income women, infants and children. WIC has proved to be profoundly successful in helping to provide assistance for needy families for 25 years. The silver anniversary of the program will be marked by celebrations on Capitol Hill and around the country. The JCPA is pleased to support and participate in these festivities. According to JCPA Chair Steven Schwarz, "This program has provided an important foundation for building a healthier America. The contribution that WIC has made to the well being of our nation's children is seen in the success and health of the program's participants." "The JCPA will continue to support initiatives and funding that strengthen this vanguard program, thereby giving more of our nation's children a chance to grow up healthy." On this silver anniversary of the establishment of WIC, the JCPA will join with coalition partners to support a $4.1 billion appropriation for WIC. This proposal would increase funding levels to the program by $181 million and serve an estimated 7.5 million WIC-eligible participants. The additional funding will help ensure that WIC continues to provide healthy food, important nutrition education, and a gateway to health care for vulnerable pregnant women, infants and young children. ###
The Jewish Council for Public Affairs is the public affairs body of the organized Jewish community and serves as the national coordinating and advisory body for the 13 national and 122 community agencies which comprise the field of Jewish community relations. |
