S. 3842 — 21st Century WIC Act of 2026

This section revises certification, recertification, and nutritional risk evaluation requirements under the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to permit participants to choose, at their option, in-person, telephone, video, or other real-time interactive formats that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. (As background, WIC provides supplemental foods, nutrition education, and health care referrals to low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women and children under age five who are at nutritional risk.) For non-in-person formats, state agencies must plan to collect required anthropometric data within 30 days of the appointment and complete collection within 90 days. The section further authorizes state agencies to grant interim eligibility and temporary certification to income-eligible applicants pending nutritional risk evaluation within 90 days, with such certification terminating after 91 days if data is not collected or nutritional risk criteria are not met.

This section authorizes state WIC agencies to deliver food instruments, including electronic benefit transfer cards, to participants through mail, remote issuance, or other means that do not require travel to a local agency. (The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides supplemental foods and nutrition education to low-income pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, infants, and children up to age 5 at nutritional risk.) It also directs the Secretary of Agriculture to revise regulations (7 CFR 246.12(r)(4)) to conform.

This section directs the Secretary of Agriculture to submit to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives, not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, a report on the use of remote technologies under the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (WIC). The report must describe (1) the use of remote technologies and digital tools, including video, telephone, and online platforms, to certify eligible individuals and to provide nutrition education and breastfeeding support; (2) the impact of such technologies on certifications, appointments, and participant satisfaction; and (3) best practices to certify participants using remote technologies, incorporate digital tools into the certification process, integrate nutrition education and breastfeeding support into remote platforms, and securely manage participant data.