21st Century WIC Act of 2026
21st Century WIC Act of 2026
Plain Language Summary
# 21st Century WIC Act of 2026 - Summary **What the bill would do:** This bill would allow people to apply for and receive WIC (a federal nutrition program for women, infants, and children) through phone or video calls instead of requiring in-person visits. Currently, applicants must go to an office in person for certification and eligibility checks. The bill would make remote certification permanent and allow states to issue benefits on electronic cards by mail or electronically, rather than only in-person pickup. **Who it affects:** The bill primarily affects low-income pregnant women, new mothers, and families with young children who rely on WIC for food assistance.
It also impacts the state agencies that administer the program, as they would need to implement remote processes. The changes are intended to make the program more convenient and accessible for participants. **Key provisions and current status:** The bill requires states to offer phone and video options alongside in-person appointments, allows temporary eligibility while nutritional evaluations are being completed (up to 90 days), and enables remote benefit card delivery. As of now, the bill is in committee and has not yet been voted on by Congress, so it has not become law.
CRS Official Summary
21st Century WIC Act of 2026This bill permanently allows individuals to remotely certify their eligibility for, and receive benefits through, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).Specifically, the bill requires that a state agency allow an individual seeking a WIC certification, recertification, or a nutritional risk evaluation to do so by phone or through video teleconference, in addition to the in-person option.A state agency has 90 days to collect data for a nutritional risk evaluation for a remotely certified individual. Further, a state agency may consider an applicant who meets the income eligibility standards to be temporarily eligible on an interim basis to participate in the program and may certify the individual for immediate participation without waiting for a nutritional risk evaluation.The bill also allows states to provide benefits on WIC electronic benefit transfer cards through mail or remote issuance instead of requiring participants to pick up or reload benefits in person at a WIC office.Further, the Department of Agriculture must report to Congress about the use of remote technologies and other digital tools in the WIC program.Currently, individuals are generally required to be physically present to certify their WIC eligibility and receive benefits, with exceptions. The Food and Nutrition Service has temporarily waived these requirements and allowed remote certification and benefits using authorities that were originally provided by laws that were enacted to address COVID-19.
Latest Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.