Ahead of the upcoming government funding deadline on March 1, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) today joined representatives from Wake County Health & Human Services’ Women, Infants and Children program (WIC) for a visit and tour of the Western Health & Human Services Center. The leaders heard directly from a WIC participant who shared her experience with the program, highlighting the need for Congress to fully fund these essential services.  

While WIC and SNAP benefits will continue in March if the government partially shuts down on March 1, nutrition assistance for 268,687 vulnerable women, children, and infants across North Carolina could be jeopardized in an extended shutdown. Last month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture warned that WIC faces a $1 billion shortfall, which could force the program to turn away about 2 million parents and young children nationwide for the first time in decades. 

“For 50 years, WIC has provided critical services to vulnerable women, infants, and children – helping to ensure that everyone in our state has access to the nutrition assistance they need,” said Congresswoman Ross. “Unfortunately, Republicans in Congress have repeatedly pushed us to the brink of a government shutdown and played partisan games with essential federal programs like WIC. Today’s visit only underscored the urgent need for Congress to fully fund these services and protect WIC so that mothers and children don’t go without nutritional support during this crucial phase of their lives. I’m incredibly grateful to the local leaders, staff, and program participants who shared their perspectives with me this morning.”     

Photos from today’s event are available here.