Juice Access Improvement Act

Bill Number

H.R. 9304

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Agriculture and Food

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-06-11: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Last Updated

2026-07-03T08:06:07Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose This legislation aims to modify the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) by establishing juice as the standard benefit option in specific food packages, while allowing participants to request a cash-value voucher alternative.

Key Provisions

• The Secretary of Agriculture must direct state WIC agencies to set juice as the default benefit for covered food packages.
• Participants may request a $3 cash-value voucher in place of juice, with the amount adjusted yearly for inflation to match adjustments for other vouchers.
• The Secretary is required to update or issue rules, including changes to specific sections of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations (paragraph (e)(10) of section 246.10 and related Table 2).
• Covered food packages include:
• Food Package IV (Children ages 1–4).
• Food Package V (Pregnant and partially breastfeeding women).
• Food Package VI (Postpartum women).
• Food Package VII (Fully breastfeeding women).
• Juice must meet existing minimum requirements under federal WIC regulations.

Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill alters current WIC administration by mandating juice as the default item in the listed food packages, rather than leaving the default unspecified or different. It also requires a regulatory update to section 246.10 of Title 7 CFR to implement this shift and adds an inflation-adjusted $3 voucher substitution option.

Potential Impacts

• Government agencies: The U.S. Department of Agriculture and state WIC agencies would need to revise procedures, update systems, and issue new guidance.
• Citizens: WIC participants in the affected categories would receive juice by default but could opt for the voucher substitution upon request.
• No direct effects on international relations are addressed in the bill.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• WIC participants, including children ages 1–4 and women who are pregnant, postpartum, or breastfeeding.
• State agencies responsible for WIC program operations.
• The Secretary of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The legislation operates within the existing framework of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 and does not introduce new constitutional questions. It focuses on administrative adjustments to benefit defaults and requires federal rulemaking, which could affect state compliance timelines.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15]

Cosponsors (3)

Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9], Rep. Kelly, Mike [R-PA-16], Rep. Langworthy, Nicholas A. [R-NY-23]

Recent Actions

• 2026-06-11: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
• 2026-06-11: Introduced in House
• 2026-06-11: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Juice Access Improvement Act — issued 2026-06-11 — PDF (3 pages)