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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2021 - 2022
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | October 27, 2021 05:04 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Judith L. Schwank |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Establishing the Women, Infants, and Children State Advisory Board (WICSAB) |
| In the near future, I will be introducing legislation to create the Women, Infants, and Children State Advisory Board (WICSAB). The Pennsylvania Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) has improved the nutrition and health of families in Pennsylvania since 1974 by providing access to healthy foods, nutrition services, breastfeeding support, health care and social service referrals. The 100% federally funded program is the cornerstone for producing a healthy mother and baby. However, PA’s WIC Program has been in serious decline for many years, despite a critical need for the program to grow, evolve, and connect families with a broad array of social, mental, education and other healthy support programs. Immediate action is needed to halt the steady decline in WIC enrollment and the resultant decrease in Federal funding and nutritional assistance for Pennsylvania’s lower-income women, infants, and children. The WICSAB will be comprised of regional WIC agencies, agency partners, advocates, grocers, health care providers and participants. The board will be tasked to advise DOH on the operation of programs to increase enrollment and utilization, such as proper implementation of ARP funds for technology and data improvements, thus improving the access and availability to those served. Please join me in sponsoring this important piece of legislation. |
Introduced as SB967