Gillibrand Bill Modernizes WIC Program And Makes Families First Coronavirus Response Act Waivers Permanent

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, along with Senator Roger Marshall, introduced the bipartisan More Options to Develop and Enhance Remote Nutrition in WIC Act (MODERN WIC) to make WIC more accessible to low-income families and help ensure more applicants receive needed benefits by allowing them to certify and recertify for WIC services remotely. In the first year of the pandemic alone, WIC providers reported a 2.5% increase in WIC participation and more low-income households continue relying on this social safety net to feed themselves and their families. To keep up with the growing need, Gillibrand's bill would invest $60 million to modernize the critical safety net program and codify two waivers granted through the Families First Coronavirus Response Act that simplified user access to WIC benefits throughout the pandemic by offering remote services. Currently, the two waivers are in place until the Public Health Emergency status is set to expire on January 16, 2022.

"Bringing the WIC program into the 21st century will make these essential benefits more accessible than ever before," said Senator Gillibrand. "Something as simple as loading a WIC EBT card should be easy and flexible, and should never be a roadblock that keeps families from putting food on the table. The MODERN WIC Act would provide the investments and upgrades needed so that all children and infants can have a healthy start to life."

"I am excited to partner with Senator Gillibrand on the MODERN WIC Act," said Senator Marshall. "I've seen firsthand the benefits WIC brings to mothers and their children, heightening access and efficiency to the WIC program for American families is a common-sense solution in a post-pandemic world."

Now more than ever, improvements made to the WIC program during the COVID-19 pandemic should be made permanent. Remote WIC services implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic helped remove common barriers to participation, helping to significantly increase child retention. Specifically, the two waivers proposed to be codified in this bill would:

Waiver 1: Allow participants to get WIC certification or re-certification through video teleconference or phone;
Wavier 2: Allow participants to receive their WIC benefits on WIC EBT cards through mail or remote issuance, as opposed to physically picking up or reloading benefits in person at a WIC office.
In addition to codifying these two waivers, the MODERN WIC Act would provide $60 million in funding for WIC offices around the country to upgrade and establish technology to help streamline these changes to the program. The bill also requires the Secretary of Agriculture to submit a report to Congress outlining the uses of remote technologies, impact of remote technologies, and best practices.

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