National WIC Association

Weekly WIC Policy Update

May 7, 2018

FY 2019 Appropriations Process Continues
As members of Congress return to DC this week, House appropriators will continue to work on their 12 FY 2019 spending bills. The full House Appropriations Committee is set tomorrow to start with the least controversial appropriations bills, including those funding military construction, veterans’ programs and congressional operations. Senate appropriators appear to be a bit further behind in the process.

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA, and Related Agencies—which sets funding for WIC—plans to markup its spending bill this Wednesday, May 9 at 4pm. We will keep you updated on the contents of this bill once it is released.

White House to Rescind $11 Billion from Old Spending Accounts
The White House plans to ask Congress later today to cut $11 billion from old spending accounts. This rescission is much less than the $63 billion rescission that was previously reported and, contrary to previous reports, will not touch the $1.3 trillion appropriated in the FY 2018 omnibus spending bill. The $11 billion will come from the 2009 stimulus package, an energy department loan and advanced manufacturing programs, and the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Once the White House makes this rescission request, Congress will have 45 days to examine the package before its expiration. A majority vote by the House of Representatives and a simple majority of 50 votes in the Senate is needed to approve it.

House May Vote on the Farm Bill this Week
Chairman Conaway (R-TX) will be meeting this week with various groups to line up support for the Farm Bill in advance of a floor vote, likely this week or next. Recently, 16 conservative Republican groups have expressed opposition to the bill, primarily over its costly farm support provisions. Nevertheless, the bill is likely to pass the full House. In the Senate, Chairman Roberts (R-KS) and Ranking Member Stabenow (D-MI) continue to work on a bipartisan bill. The timeline for the Senate bill’s introduction remains unclear, with the number of working days before the fall’s elections dwindling. You can read NWA’s press release on the House Farm Bill here.