COVID-19 WIC Response Act of 2020

Bill: 116-hr-6298
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15]
Introduced: 2020-03-19
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Blood and blood diseases

Cardiovascular and respiratory health

Child health

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Food assistance and relief

Government information and archives

Health programs administration and funding

Infectious and parasitic diseases

Intergovernmental relations

Medical tests and diagnostic methods

Nutrition and diet

Poverty and welfare assistance

State and local government operations

Women's health
Latest action: action_date: 2020-03-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-03-19
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>COVID-19 WIC Response Act of 2020</b></p> <p>This bill modifies food and nutrition programs of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to allow certain waivers and deferments of requirements under the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) during public health emergencies, such as the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) outbreak.</p> <p>Specifically, USDA may</p> <ul> <li>grant waivers allowing participants under WIC to get certified or recertified without being physically present at a WIC clinic;</li> <li>defer anthropometric and bloodwork requirements necessary to determine nutritional risk; and</li> <li>grant waivers from administrative requirements for WIC if it determines that the requirement cannot be met by a state due to COVID-19, and the waiver is necessary to provide assistance under WIC.</li> </ul> <p>USDA authority under this bill expires on July 31, 2020.</p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6298 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 19, 2020 Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania (for himself and Ms. Schrier ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor A BILL To waive and defer certain requirements under the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children during certain emergencies, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the COVID-19 WIC Response Act of 2020 . 2. Physical presence waiver under WIC during certain public health emergencies (a) Waiver authority (1) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary may grant a request described in paragraph (2) to— (A) waive the requirement under subsection (d)(3)(C)(i) of section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1786(d)(3)(C)(i) ); and (B) defer anthropometric and bloodwork requirements necessary to determine nutritional risk under such section. (2) Request A request described in this paragraph is a request made to the Secretary by a State agency to waive, on behalf of the local agencies served by such State agency, the requirements described in paragraph (1) during any portion of the emergency period (as defined in paragraph (1)(B) of section 1135(g) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1320b–5(g) )) beginning on or after the date of the enactment of this section. (b) Reports (1) Local agency reports Each local agency that uses a waiver pursuant to subsection (a) shall, not later than 1 year after the date such local agency uses such waiver, submit a report to the State agency serving such local agency that includes the following: (A) A summary of the use of such waiver by the local agency. (B) A description of whether such waiver resulted in improved services to women, infants, and children. (2) State agency reports Each State agency that receives a waiver under subsection (a), shall, not later than 18 months after the date such State agency received such waiver, submit a report to the Secretary that includes the following: (A) A summary of the reports received by the State agency under paragraph (1). (B) A description of whether such waiver resulted in improved services to women, infants, and children. 3. Administrative requirements waiver under WIC (a) Waiver authority (1) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary may, if requested by a State agency, modify or waive any qualified administrative requirement with respect to such State agency. (2) Qualified administrative requirement In this section, the term qualified administrative requirement means an administrative requirement under section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1786 ) that the Secretary determines— (A) cannot be met by a State agency due to COVID-19; and (B) the modification or waiver of which is necessary to provide assistance under such section. (b) State agency reports Each State agency that receives a waiver under subsection (a)(1), shall, not later than 1 year after the date such State agency received such waiver, submit a report to the Secretary that includes the following: (1) A summary of the use of such waiver by the State agency. (2) A description of whether such waiver resulted in improved services to women, infants, and children. 4. Definitions In this Act: (1) Local agency The term local agency has the meaning given the term in section 17(b) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1786(b) ). (2) Nutritional risk The term nutritional risk has the meaning given the term in section 17(b) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1786(b) ). (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) ). 5. Sunset The authorities under this Act shall expire on July 31, 2020.