I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6726 
To provide a State option for certain cash-value voucher increases during 
the COVID–19 public health emergency, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 5, 2020 
Ms. SCHRIER (for herself and Mr. WRIGHT) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor 
A BILL 
To provide a State option for certain cash-value voucher 
increases during the COVID–19 public health emergency, 
and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘WIC Benefit Flexi-
bility During COVID–19 Act’’. 
SEC. 2. STATE OPTION FOR CASH-VALUE VOUCHER IN-
CREASES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— 
(1) AUTHORITY
TO
INCREASE
AMOUNT
OF 
CASH-VALUE
VOUCHER.—During the COVID–19 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:35 May 15, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6726.IH
H6726
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
public health emergency declared under section 319 
of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d) 
and in response to challenges related to such public 
health emergency, the Secretary may increase the 
amount of a cash-value voucher under a qualified 
food package to an amount less than or equal to 
$35. 
(2) APPLICATION OF INCREASED AMOUNT OF 
CASH-VALUE VOUCHER TO STATE AGENCIES.— 
(A) NOTIFICATION.—An increase to the 
amount of a cash-value voucher under para-
graph (1) shall apply to any State agency that 
notifies the Secretary of the intent to use such 
an increased amount, without further applica-
tion. 
(B) USE
OF
INCREASED
AMOUNT.—A 
State agency that notifies the Secretary under 
subparagraph (A) may use or not use the in-
creased amount described in such subparagraph 
during the period beginning on the date of the 
notification by the State agency under such 
subparagraph and ending September 30, 2020. 
(3) APPLICATION PERIOD.—An increase to the 
amount of a cash-value voucher under paragraph (1) 
may only apply during the period beginning on the 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:35 May 15, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6726.IH
H6726
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
date of the enactment of this section and ending on 
September 30, 2020. 
(4) SUNSET.—The authority to make an in-
crease to the amount of a cash-value voucher under 
paragraph (1) or to use such an increased amount 
under paragraph (2)(B) shall terminate on Sep-
tember 30, 2020. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.— 
(1) CASH-VALUE VOUCHER.—The term ‘‘cash- 
value voucher’’ has the meaning given the term in 
section 246.2 of title 7, Code of Federal Regula-
tions. 
(2) QUALIFIED
FOOD
PACKAGE.—The term 
‘‘qualified food package’’ means the following food 
packages under section 246.10(e) of title 7, Code of 
Federal Regulations: 
(A) Food Package IV–Children 1 through 
4 years. 
(B) Food Package V–Pregnant and par-
tially (mostly) breastfeeding women. 
(C) Food Package VI–Postpartum women. 
(D) Food Package VII–Fully breastfeed-
ing. 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Agriculture. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:35 May 15, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6726.IH
H6726
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(4) STATE AGENCY.—The term ‘‘State agency’’ 
has the meaning given the term in section 17(b) of 
the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 
1786(b)). 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:35 May 15, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H6726.IH
H6726
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS