IDFA Advocacy Alert: Support Congressional Efforts to Stop USDA’s Cuts to WIC Dairy Benefits

Dear Dairy Community,

Thank you for supporting IDFA’s advocacy efforts to maintain current levels of milk and dairy benefits for moms and children enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, or WIC. As you well know, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is proposing significant cuts to these benefits. Many of you have taken the time to submit comments to the Federal Register urging USDA to abandon these cuts. Today, we ask for just two more minutes of your time as we turn our attention to how Congress can play a role in this rulemaking.

Right now, U.S. Sens. Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Josh Harder (D-CA) are circulating letters that will go to USDA urging them to abandon the proposed cuts to dairy in the WIC food package. With your support, we can encourage your members of Congress to join those letters. Visit the IDFA Campaign Center today to send a quick email to your members of Congress in support of this campaign. The more members of Congress we have signed on to the letters, the stronger show of support we’ll have from Congress to USDA on this issue.

Background on USDA’s proposal

More than 6 million low-income mothers and children, including an estimated 43% of all infants in the U.S., rely on a federal nutrition program known as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, or WIC. The WIC program provides cash benefits to mothers to buy specific types of foods and beverages that are high in the kinds of vitamins and nutrients moms and young children need for growth and development at the critical life stages. Dairy products like milk, yogurt, and cheese play a central role in the program, ensuring participants get 13 essential nutrients–including three of the four nutrients of public health concern as noted by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA).

Yet in November, the USDA proposed to cut the amount of milk and dairy provided to WIC moms and children. For example, for a pregnant WIC mother with two children under 5 years of age, the proposal would remove the equivalent of up to 3 gallons or more of milk per month, depending on the participant.

If you have any questions about IDFA’s advocacy on the WIC food package, please contact our staff experts Michelle Matto, MPH, RDN, and Rob Rosado. 

Thank you for your support! 

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