Modern WIC Act Update

Washington State WIC staff and community partners have done a great job of educating our elected officials about the Modern WIC Act.  In fact, our great state has the second most Congressional Co-Sponsors, second only to our giant neighbor, California!  Just like us here in Washington State, they also have a strong WIC Association that helps to engage local WIC staff with our decision makers.  Thank you to everyone who helped in this effort, and thank you to our US Representatives who’ve signed on (also pictured below, left to right) Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8]; Rep. Baumgartner, Michael [R-WA-5], Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1], Rep. Smith, Adam (D-WA 9).

What’s next:

Now the Committee of Workforce Development needs to vote to move the Bill to the House floor for a full debate and vote. Given that Rep Baumgartner is on this committee, we are hopeful that this will happen soon, but as of publication date, there is no official word when or if this will happen. If your representative isn’t listed above and you would like to educate them about the importance of continuing remote service for WIC families, take individual off-duty action here or make an appointment with Nicole @ Nutrition First to discuss how we can work together on this.

ICYMI: What is the Modern WIC Act and why is it important to WIC?

The MODERN WIC Act would make it permanent for WIC families to do certifications and get benefits online or by phone. WIC would still include health checks and keep program rules strong. This change would give families more flexibility and make WIC easier to use.

Right now, WIC can offer remote services only because of a temporary rule. That rule will end within a year. If Congress does not act, families will lose this option. The MODERN WIC Act is needed to make it permanent.

Remote services help families who face barriers to in-person visits, like finding transportation, taking time off work, or getting child care. They also help WIC clinics save time and make WIC work more like other modern health programs.

Learn more: National WIC Association’s background and position on the Act:
https://media.nwica.org/modern-wic-act.pdf