FNS Release No. 0001.03

Jean Daniel (703) 305-2286

MACON, Ga., Jan. 23, 2003 -- Deputy Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services (FNCS) Suzanne M. Biermann today announced increased funding for the Georgia Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition program. The increase is a part of President Bush’s 2004 budget request which includes record-level funding for USDA’s Women, Infants and Children Program. The $4.77 billion request is a $43 million increase over the FY 2003 request and represents a $737 million increase since FY 2000.

“President Bush understands the vital role nutrition plays in children’s development,” said Biermann. “This budget increase recognizes that WIC works and is helping mothers in Georgia and across America provide their children with a healthy and nutritious start in life.”

Biermann toured the WIC Community Nutrition Center in Macon where she met with state officials and local WIC administrators about the increased funding and the benefits for low-income Macon residents. “State and local organizations are key partners in ensuring that WIC works,” said Biermann. The President’s new budget will allow WIC programs, like the one Biermann visited today, to provide benefits to nearly 8 million low-income mothers and children across the country in 2004.

WIC is a public health nutrition program within USDA that provides supplemental food and individualized nutrition education and counseling, as well as critical referrals to other health care and social service assistance programs, for at-risk, low-income pregnant women and new mothers and for infants and children up to age 5.

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