Connecticut officials are continuing to offer both the Women's Infants and Children (WIC) program and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for young children and low-income families despite the government shutdown.
The decision was made to ensure that eligible pregnant people, breastfeeding parents, and children aged up to five years continue to receive much-needed food assistance and medical benefits.
Connecticut's Food Program
In a statement, Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz said that the state is able to fund the program despite the ongoing federal shutdown. She noted they have a "very large rainy day fund" and will not let women, babies, and children go hungry.
Additionally, State Public Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani said that every day the WIC program runs, they spend roughly $200,000. Gov. Ned Lamont said on Oct. 1 that Connecticut can cover such costs using its emergency state reserves, which will last at least through the month of October, according to CT Public.
The governor said that while they expect the federal government to reimburse them for the costs of the program, it is not something they can be sure of right now. When Lamont was asked about what would happen if they were not reimbursed, he did not have an answer.
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What the governor did say is that they want to take things one step at a time right now, emphasizing that they are now taking care of people. Lamont said he wants to believe that the government shutdown will end soon.
Connecticut's announcement follows through on a commitment that the state's governor made last week. This was to have the state pay for healthy food, infant formula, and other necessities that are offered through SNAP and WIC, CT Insider reported.
Much-Needed Assistance
City director of Health and Human Services, Ebony Jackson-Shaheed, said If the federal government does not address its current issue, the roughly 6,100 women, infants, and children in Hartford who receive benefits from WIC could have their assistance taken away.
The situation comes as the CT Summer Meals Program, which offers free breakfast and lunch to anyone aged 18 years and under and operates at hundreds of sites across Connecticut, was at risk over proposed SNAP and Medicaid cuts in June.
The program, which is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's SUN programs, is responsible for distributing more than 1.75 million meals to more than 37,000 children across the state, as per the New Haven Register.
