[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 6] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page 8683] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]WIC: 25 YEARS OF BUILDING A HEALTHIER AMERICA ______ HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN of new york in the house of representatives Wednesday, May 5, 1999 Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for WIC, the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children. It is vital that, in order to ensure that people grow up and live healthy lives, they receive proper nutrition. WIC is an indispensable organization that serves over 7.4 million pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and preschool children in over 10,000 clinics nationwide. Thankfully, WIC is designed to aid those who regrettably have an income level of 185 percent of poverty or less, are enrolled in Medicaid or have been recommended by a health professional. It is essential that we ensure healthy children and adults by making sure that mothers receive proper nutrition long before their children are born and during their early years of development. Children will perform better in school and lead more productive lives when they receive the proper nutrition from the very beginning. A common theme in all branches of government today is that of the importance of the family. WIC strengthens families by providing low- cost services to families who are at risk due to low income and nutritionally related health conditions. Because two-thirds of all WIC families live below the poverty level, the services they provide are essential in making sure that these families stay together. The strength of any nation comes from the strength of its people. In order for us to assure that the United States remains strong we must be sure that all of our citizens are healthy, starting from the time when they are very young. WIC is a program that ensures just that. Accordingly, I urge all of my colleagues to support it. ____________________