U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, District 21 | Official U.S. House headshot
U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, District 21 | Official U.S. House headshot
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Elise Stefanik and Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee Chair Andy Harris (R-MD) have sent a letter to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack. The inquiry focuses on why the USDA did not follow a Congressional directive concerning the final rule, “Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC): Revisions in the WIC Food Packages,” which instructed the secretary to avoid reducing the maximum monthly allowance for milk.
In the final rule published in the Federal Register on April 18, 2024, USDA acknowledged the language included in the Appropriations bill that passed with bipartisan support but then disregarded the Congressional directive.
The letter also requests that USDA provide data supporting their claim that this change will not lead to reduced participant redemption of milk and dairy products. This is despite USDA’s own analysis showing an annual net decrease of $28 million in milk and $8 million in cheese.
“In the explanatory statement accompanying the FY24 Appropriations package that became law on March 9, 2024, Congress included language stating,” read part of the letter from lawmakers. “The agreement directs the Secretary to not reduce the maximum monthly allowance with respect to milk when submitting a final rule to the proposed rule entitled 'Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC): Revisions to the WIC Food Packages' published in the Federal Register on November 21, 2022 (87 Fed. Reg. 71090).”
The lawmakers further stated: “The FY24 Appropriations packages passed Congress with bipartisan and bicameral support, which President Biden then signed into law. Members of Congress and appropriators expect that when language using term ‘directs’ is signed into law regarding a proposed rule that Administration must then follow Congressional intent in carrying out final rule.”
Find full letter here.
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