Findings, declarations

The Legislature finds and declares that: a. The federal "WIC" program provides nutritious foods to low-income pregnant and lactating women and infants and children up to five years of age who are determined to be at special nutritional risk because of poor health or inadequate nutrition, or both; b. The federal "WIC" program is essential to the well-being of all eligible persons, and these persons should receive the benefits of the program; c. The Department of Health has limited participation in the "WIC" program and did not spend all of the federal moneys available for the program to ensure that the program did not overspend its federal allotment, because the federal government requires that any WIC program funds not spent during the federal fiscal year in which they are appropriated be returned to the federal government, and because there are currently no State funds provided to support the WIC program in New Jersey; d. If a contingency fund was established, the State would be able to ensure that program benefits are provided to all eligible women, infants and children; and e. It is therefore, in the interest of the State to establish a contingency fund for the "WIC" program in order to provide a stable, nutritional food program for all eligible women, infants, and children with nutritious foods.