September 28, 2023 · House · RC 507

Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA Appropriations, FY2024 (WIC cuts)

House Bill, H.R. 4368

What it did

H.R. 4368 was the House Republican agriculture spending bill for fiscal year 2024, sponsored by Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD). It funded the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) about $800 million below what the program needed to serve everyone eligible, and it cut the WIC fruit-and-vegetable benefit for children and pregnant women by more than half.

The Department of Agriculture and the White House both warned that states would have to start waiting lists for mothers and babies. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimated that about 2 million parents and young children would be turned away. A yes vote funded the program at that level.

A no vote rejected it.

The bill fell 191-237 on September 28, 2023 because some Republicans wanted deeper cuts and others would not vote for the WIC reduction. At the time of this vote, WIC was feeding about 6.7 million mothers, infants, and young children.

Result: Failed 191-237

At the time of this vote: ~6,700,000 mothers, infants, and young children on WIC; ~2,000,000 of them could have been turned away at this funding level (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimate)

The humane vote: No (NAY)

Official roll-call record

Members in this record who voted inhumanely (152)

Members in this record who voted humanely (191)