Democrats and Republicans in Washington fully funded the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, also known as WIC, for the fiscal year 2024. This funding, part of a larger package, ensures families can receive WIC without being turned away. 

“It feels good to know that my kids are going to be able to eat and they're going to be able to have food. They're not going to go hungry," says recipient Fayette Dowdell. 

Dowdell's daughter Myava always has food on her table, thanks to the WIC program.

“Well, when she was younger, you know, they do the formula and formula is really expensive. So it really does help. And now that she’s one, she’s able to eat So they provide whole milk, eggs, cheese, bread, juice, peanut butter. It really does help a lot," Dowdell said.

What You Need To Know

  • WIC is celebrating its 50th year in New York State with Corie explaining the program has over 400,000 participants each month

  • Prior to lawmakers in Washington agreeing to add an extra $1 billion to WIC for fiscal year 2024, the program  was facing a funding cliff

  • An increase in enrollment could have forced states to initiate waitlists for the first time since the 1990s but lawmakers recently agreed to a bipartisan package of spending bills which included $7 billion for the WIC program, and it's been signed into law by President Biden

Prior to lawmakers in Washington agreeing to add an extra $1 billion to WIC for fiscal year 2024, the program was facing a funding cliff. 

An increase in enrollment could have forced states to initiate waitlists for the first time since the 1990s.

But lawmakers recently agreed to a bipartisan package of spending bills which included $7 billion for the WIC program, and it's been signed into law by President Biden.

“Since COVID hit back in 2020, we've seen a steady increase in program participation. You know, I think one benefit to the program since COVID was that we've been able to offer flexibility and appointments and allow for remote appointments," said New York State WIC Program Director Corie Nadzan.

This year, WIC marks its 50th year in New York, with Nadzan saying the program has more than 400,000 participants each month. Without WIC, moms like Fayette would have a hard time making sure their children have everything they need.