Republicans looking to gut WIC, food programs in amendment debate

House Republicans on Wednesday made several attempts to cut key food and nutrition programs favored by Democrats, and set up a series of roll call votes later in the day.

When amendment consideration began at 1 p.m. on the agriculture appropriations bill, Reps. Paul Broun (R-Ga.) and Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) introduced two amendments to cut the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program. Broun's amendment would cut this program by 10 percent, and Foxx's would cut $82.5 million.

Democrats spent much of Tuesday arguing against the cuts to WIC already included in the bill, and all can be expected to vote against further cuts.

Republicans also offered several amendments that would cut the Food for Peace program. Rep. Paul (R-Ariz.) proposed cutting it by $200 million, offered a separate amendment to cut it by $100 million, and Rep. Broun proposed zeroing out the program entirely, a $940 million cut.

Recorded votes on all of these are expected later Wednesday.

Other votes are expected on amendments to cut $180 million from the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition program grants, and cut $175 million from the Foreign Agricultural Service. Both of these amendments are also from Broun.