MODERN WIC Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 1464

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Agriculture and Food

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-02-21: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Last Updated

2026-06-23T08:05:54Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The "More Options to Develop and Enhance Remote Nutrition in WIC Act of 2025" (MODERN WIC Act of 2025) aims to update the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) by allowing remote options for certification, nutritional evaluations, and benefit delivery. This makes the program more accessible, particularly for participants who face barriers to in-person visits, such as those in rural areas or with transportation challenges.

Key Provisions

• Remote Certification and Evaluations (Section 2): State agencies must offer appointments for certification, recertification, or nutritional risk assessments (which determine if someone qualifies due to health risks like poor nutrition) in-person or remotely via telephone, video technology, or other real-time interactive formats approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary.
• All remote options must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, ensuring accessibility for people with disabilities.
• For remote certifications, agencies must collect key health measurements (anthropometric data, like height and weight) as soon as possible, ideally within 30 days, but no later than 90 days.
• Applicants meeting income rules can get temporary eligibility immediately, even without a full nutritional evaluation, but the evaluation must occur within 90 days; eligibility ends if data isn't collected or risks aren't confirmed.
• Remote Benefit Delivery (Section 3): State agencies can issue WIC benefits (food instruments like vouchers or electronic benefit transfer cards) remotely, such as by mail or other non-travel methods, without requiring participants to visit a local office.
• The USDA Secretary must update federal regulations to remove restrictions on mailing benefits.
• Report to Congress (Section 4): Within one year of enactment, the USDA Secretary must submit a report to specified Senate and House committees detailing:
• Use of remote tools (e.g., video, phone, online platforms) for certifications, nutrition education, and breastfeeding support.
• Impacts on participant satisfaction, appointments, and certifications.
• Best practices for remote certifications, digital integration, education services, and secure data management.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Amends Section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 by removing outdated requirements for strictly in-person presence and adding explicit allowances for remote formats.
• Expands benefit delivery beyond just mailing vouchers to include broader "remote issuance" options, striking restrictive language in federal regulations (7 CFR 246.12(r)(4)).
• Introduces timelines and interim eligibility rules for nutritional evaluations in remote settings, which were not previously detailed for virtual processes.
• Makes technical adjustments to subparagraph margins for clarity in the law's structure.

Potential Impacts

• On Citizens: Increases access to WIC for low-income pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and young children by reducing travel needs, potentially boosting program participation and improving nutritional outcomes. Remote options could enhance convenience and satisfaction, especially for working families or those in remote locations.
• On Government Agencies: State WIC agencies gain flexibility in operations, possibly lowering administrative costs related to in-person appointments. The USDA will need to oversee compliance, update regulations, and produce the required report, which may involve new training or technology investments.
• On International Relations: No direct impacts, as this is a domestic nutrition program.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• WIC Participants: Primary beneficiaries, including eligible women, infants, and children who gain easier access to certifications, benefits, and support services.
• State and Local WIC Agencies: Responsible for implementing remote options, ensuring ADA compliance, and managing data collection timelines.
• U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA): Oversees the program, approves remote formats, revises regulations, and prepares the congressional report.
• Congressional Committees: The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry and the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, which will receive the report and may influence future program adjustments.
• Advocacy Groups: Organizations focused on nutrition, disability rights, and family support, who may benefit from or monitor expanded accessibility.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Reinforces ADA and Rehabilitation Act compliance by mandating accessible remote formats, potentially reducing lawsuits over access barriers. Introduces data security considerations for remote tools, emphasizing best practices in the report to protect participant privacy under federal laws like HIPAA (though not directly amended here).
• Constitutional: Supports equal protection principles by addressing disparities in program access, without raising significant federalism concerns as it builds on existing state-administered federal programs.
• Political: Modernizes WIC in response to post-pandemic shifts toward virtual services, potentially increasing bipartisan support for nutrition programs by improving efficiency and equity. The required report could inform future funding or expansions, highlighting the role of technology in public health initiatives.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]

Cosponsors (73)

Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25], Rep. Bynum, Janelle [D-OR-5], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38], Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42], Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8], Rep. Torres, Norma J. [D-CA-35], Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Friedman, Laura [D-CA-30], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44], Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3], Rep. Baumgartner, Michael [R-WA-5], Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10], Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large], Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9], Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2], Rep. Gonzalez, Vicente [D-TX-34], Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4], Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1], Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22], Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2], Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12], Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14], Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Rep. Salazar, Maria Elvira [R-FL-27], Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12], Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2], Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50], Rep. McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6], Rep. Mrvan, Frank J. [D-IN-1], Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7], Rep. Pou, Nellie [D-NJ-9], Rep. Whitesides, George [D-CA-27], Rep. Bresnahan, Robert P. [R-PA-8], Rep. Perez, Marie Gluesenkamp [D-WA-3], Rep. Sykes, Emilia Strong [D-OH-13], Rep. Mackenzie, Ryan [R-PA-7], Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9] and 23 more

Recent Actions

• 2025-02-21: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
• 2025-02-21: Introduced in House
• 2025-02-21: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• More Options to Develop and Enhance Remote Nutrition in WIC Act of 2025 — issued 2025-02-21 — PDF (7 pages)