[Page H2661]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page H2661]]
           IN OPPOSITION TO THE NUTRITION BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM

  (Mr. WARD asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the nutrition 
block grant program, which, if enacted into law as the Republican 
contract seeks to do, will devastate our Nation's children. Despite the 
rhetoric we hear about creating less government, the fact is this new 
block grant program will create 50 new programs administered by 50 new 
State bureaucracies.
  Under the Republican family nutrition block grant proposal, child 
care, nutrition, WIC programs, and others like them will be cut by 5.3; 
let me rephrase that, $5,300 million. We should not talk about 
billions, we should talk about millions, because it is a number we can 
relate to better; $5,300 million cut over 5 years from our women, 
infant, and children's programs. This is a successful program and 
should not be changed.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to these programs. These are mean-
spirited Republican ideas.

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