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Kilili asks Fitial to exempt WIC from work hour cuts
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Posted on Mar 16 2012
By Haidee V. Eugenio
Reporter
Reporter
Delegate Gregorio Kilili Sablan (Ind-MP) asked Gov. Benigno R. Fitial yesterday to exempt from the 16-hour work cuts all federally funded programs, particularly the Women, Infants and Children Program, to comply with federal law that says the WIC Program may not be subject to state budget restrictions.
But Fitial, in an interview Saturday, said he does not plan to lift the austerity measures because he wants to promote fairness and equality among all government employees, whether funded locally or by the federal government.
Fitial said the exemption for the Nutrition Assistance Program, which runs the federally funded food stamp program, is temporary and only to address the backlog in reviewing eligibility of beneficiaries.
The WIC Program provides support for low-income pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, infants and children.
Sablan cited Section 361 of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, which states that federal funds provided to state agencies for the administration of the WIC program may not be subject to budget restrictions or limitations, including work furloughs.
He also brought to Fitial’s attention the fiscal year 2012 agreement between the CNMI and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in which former Health Secretary Joseph Kevin Villagomez agreed to abide by the Section 361 requirement, and the addendum to the fiscal year 2011 agreement, also signed by Secretary Villagomez, to abide by the same grant restrictions.
“I urge you to adhere to these and all terms and conditions for receiving federal funds,” Sablan told Fitial.
