[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 6] [Senate] [Page 8294] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]WIC (Mr. BALLENGER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.) Mr. BALLENGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, better known as WIC, a program that has been providing short-term, low-cost preventive health services to young families who are at risk due to low income or nutritionally-related health conditions for 25 years. Studies have shown that pregnant women who participate in WIC have longer pregnancies leading to fewer premature births, have fewer low- birth-weight babies, experience few infant deaths, and seek prenatal care earlier in their pregnancy. And when I say it is cost effective, let me point out some real numbers to my colleagues. It costs $22,000 a pound to raise a low or very low-birth-weight baby to normal weight, costs that are often covered by Medicaid. It costs only $40 per pound to provide WIC prenatal benefits. These figures show that WIC is making a real difference. I want to thank those who have made the program a success and wish WIC a happy 25th birthday. ____________________