Atlanta, GA – Today, Representative Lucy McBath (GA-06) is leading Georgia’s Democratic Members of the U.S. House of Representatives in sending a letter to Governor Brian Kemp urging him to take all possible steps—and publicly commit— to using state funds to ensure that there are no interruptions to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) as a result of President Trump and Congressional Republicans’ failure to avoid a government shutdown. This letter is signed by Representatives Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), David Scott (GA-13), Sanford Bishop (GA-02), and Nikema Williams (GA-05).

Despite controlling the White House and both chambers of Congress, Republican leadership has failed to keep the government open. As a result, the Georgia Department of Public Health estimates that WIC offices will begin to close and suspend benefits in our state within the next two to three weeks. Without decisive action from the state at the appropriate time, a federal funding lapse will leave vulnerable families without access to formula, food, and other vital resources. 

USDA has confirmed that states may use their own funds to keep their WIC programs running and will be reimbursed once federal operations resume, as in prior shutdowns. With over $14 billion dollars in the General Reserve Fund, Georgia is well positioned to ensure that WIC participants in the state are fully protected during the length of any shutdown. The letter urges the Governor to take these steps now to guarantee that families will remain able to enroll in the program and that current participants will continue to receive baby food, formula, and essential health screenings without interruption. Other states including Iowa, Colorado, and Connecticut have already taken proactive measures to guarantee continued WIC operations by the state if federal funding lapses.

“Pregnant women, nursing mothers, and young families with infants should not be the ones to pay the price for Republican leadership’s failure to keep the government open,” said Rep. McBath. “WIC provides critical support for mothers, infants, and young children across our state. We are urging Governor Kemp to take immediate action and ensure that families can continue to enroll and they are protected from any interruption in service.” 

The WIC Program serves roughly 245,000 Georgians, providing essential nutrition assistance, breastfeeding support, and healthcare referrals to low-income pregnant women, infants, and children under five.

The full text of the letter can be found online here and below:

Governor Kemp,

We write to request that you take action to ensure that participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, also known as WIC, are not unnecessarily impacted in Georgia by the federal government shutdown.

As you know, President Trump and Congressional Republicans have failed to avoid a government shutdown despite controlling the White House as well as both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. We ask that you use state funds to provide temporary funding to ensure that the 245,000 women, infants, and children enrolled in the WIC program stay enrolled and maintain their benefits. If action is not taken, the Georgia Department of Public Health estimates that WIC will begin to close offices and suspend benefits in our state within the next two to three weeks.

Similar to previous shutdowns and in line with past precedent, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has made clear that State agencies are permitted to use State appropriated funds to support WIC program costs (including operations during a federal lapse in appropriations). Once Federal funding becomes available, WIC program costs incurred during this lapse may be eligible for Federal reimbursement.

With an estimated $14 to $16 billion dollars in the General Reserve Fund, Georgia is well positioned to ensure that WIC participants in our state are fully protected during the length of any government shutdown3 . WIC families in Georgia will be negatively impacted by the government shutdown if your administration fails to take the necessary action at the appropriate time.

We ask that you publicly commit to taking all possible steps and that you make funding available to ensure that pregnant women, nursing mothers, and young families with infants can continue to enroll in the program and that current participants continue to receive baby food, formula, and essential health screenings without interruption.

We look forward to hearing from you.