Sen. Patty Murray and Rep. Rick Larsen said they won’t stop fighting to keep a WIC office open on base.

The two lawmakers have sent another letter to Defense Secretary Ashton Carter asking him to make an exception to a rule that would shut down a program on the base that provides supplemental food and other services to low-income pregnant and postpartum women and children.

“We all agree that we should be providing more support to our military families who already sacrifice so much to serve our country, and keeping this facility fully operational is a commonsense step in the right direction,” stated the letter signed by both lawmakers.

Not doing so is “a bureaucratic obstacle to take us backward,” they added.

For years, Navy families have accessed the Women Infants and Children’s program at the Seaplane Base. Most junior enlisted families make so little money that they qualify.

The federal government decided to stop allowing “non-federal entities” to use buildings on base rent-free. That included the WIC office on base, which is administered by the nonprofit Community Action of Skagit.

Larsen (D-Arlington) said he’s working to make sure military families get the services they need, and the Department of Defense hasn’t put forward a solution that would allow local military families to access WIC.

“Setting aside my concern that military families have to rely on WIC in the first place, I will continue to advocate to keep the WIC office open and available to Navy families,” he said.

Both Larsen and Murray have pushed to keep the office open, including sending letters to Washington, D.C. They did get a response. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus and Secretary of Defense Under Secretary Brad Carson wrote back and suggested some options. The lawmakers insist neither option is feasible.

One would require the WIC office to get a license to use the building on base. Under the terms of the license, the office staff would have to transport all materials and equipment to and from the clinic each day.

The other option suggested was leasing a building. Under this option, the program would pay annual rent and utilities to the tune of $20,000 and $1,500 respectively — plus a one-time $15,000 administrative fee to process the lease.

The $36,500 spent could be used to pay for the services of 73 clients who are all low-income, military connected mothers and infants, wrote the lawmakers.

“So leasing space is not a realistic or viable solution,” they wrote. “CASC is a community-based nonprofit organization that is focused on providing services for those in need, and these DoD generated fees are dollar-for-dollar reductions in benefits that should be provided to military families, without question.”

The WIC office will continue to operate on base until at least the end of the year, thanks to another extension by the Navy.

Island County administers the WIC offices in Oak Harbor, South Whidbey and Camano, serving around 1,000 people. The county is making plans to absorb more clients but that’s not easy.

The WIC office on base serves around 700 people and it’s located close to other support services.

Navy families have different needs from their civilian counterparts, said Wende Dolstad, the base WIC coordinator. Most of the employees are from Navy families who understand the stresses and other situations particular to military families. Those include being far removed from family and friends.

“Many Navy families take advantage of support services that are part of the military complex, but would potentially shy away from asking for services in the local community,” she said. “Some young families would therefore miss the personal support, valuable referrals, nutrition education, breastfeeding support and healthy foods offered by WIC.”

This issue is larger than Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Dolstad said. It’s common to offer WIC services on bases, she said.

Murray said she plans to keep talking to the Department of Defense to find a solution. She said it isn’t right that the government would cut off access to a program to those who need it.

“This program is clearly an integral part of the community and helps so many military families who want to give their children a healthy start,” she said. “There is no better way for this WIC office to provide for military families than in its current location at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.”