Title: WIC Benefit Flexibility During COVID–19 Act
Policy area: Social Welfare

Summary:
WIC Benefit Flexibility During COVID-19 Act
This bill permits state agencies to temporarily increase the dollar amount of cash-value vouchers that are redeemable for fruits and vegetables under the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6726 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






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 Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``WIC Benefit Flexibility During 
COVID-19 Act''.

SEC. 2. STATE OPTION FOR CASH-VALUE VOUCHER INCREASES.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) Authority to increase amount of cash-value voucher.--
        During the COVID-19 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 paragraph (1) shall apply to 
                any State agency that notifies the Secretary of the 
                intent to use such an increased amount, without further 
                application.
                    (B) Use of increased amount.--A State agency that 
                notifies the Secretary under subparagraph (A) may use 
                or not use the increased 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 date of the enactment of this 
        section and ending on September 30, 2020.
            (4) Sunset.--The authority to make an increase 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 September 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 Regulations.
            (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 partially (mostly) 
                breastfeeding women.
                    (C) Food Package VI-Postpartum women.
                    (D) Food Package VII-Fully breastfeeding.
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Agriculture.
            (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)).
                                 <all>