BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A House committee has signed off an amendment by U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson to include fresh potatoes as part of a federal family nutrition program. The amendment was adopted by the House Appropriations Committee Thursday as part of the 2014 Agriculture Appropriations bill. Simpson is a Republican who represents Idaho's 2nd Congressional District, which spans the state's potato biggest growing region. His amendment includes fresh potatoes to the Women, Infants, and Children — known as WIC — program. Simpson says fresh potatoes have been excluded from WIC despite their widely known nutritional value. He says his amendment simply gives families more healthy choices. The bill now awaits approval by the full House.

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