21st Century WIC Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Sen. Marshall, Roger [R-KS]
Introduced
Summary
Creates new remote options for WIC certification and benefit delivery. It would let participants use in-person, phone, video, or other two-way real-time formats for certification and allow food instruments and electronic benefit transfer cards to be mailed or issued remotely.
Show full summary
- Families and participants: Would allow certification, recertification, and nutrition risk checks by phone or video, with required physical measurements collected within 30 days and finished no later than 90 days. Participants who meet income rules could get temporary WIC certification immediately while the full nutrition evaluation is completed within 90 days.
- State agencies: Would let states temporarily certify applicants and requires them to stop temporary certification after 91 days if the required data are not collected. States must update plans to support remote issuance and ADA-compliant formats.
- Program services and providers: Would expand delivery options for food instruments and EBT cards by mail or remote issuance and encourage integrating nutrition education and breastfeeding support into remote platforms.
- USDA and oversight: Would require the Secretary to revise regulations and to report to Congress within 1 year on use, impacts, best practices, and secure data management for remote technologies.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
More remote WIC access and delivery
If enacted, you would be able to choose how to meet with WIC for certification, recertification, or a nutrition check: in person, by phone, by live two‑way video, or other live two‑way formats the Secretary approves. All offered formats would have to be accessible under the Americans with Disabilities Act and section 504. If you meet WIC income rules, the State could temporarily certify you immediately without waiting for the nutrition evaluation. The nutrition evaluation must be finished within 90 days of temporary certification. Temporary certification ends 91 days after certification if required data were not collected, or earlier if the State finds you are not at nutritional risk. For appointments done other than in person, the State must plan to collect your anthropometric data within 30 days and must collect it no later than 90 days after the appointment. States would also be able to mail or remotely issue food instruments, including electronic benefit transfer cards, so you would not have to pick them up in person.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Sen. Marshall, Roger [R-KS]
KS • R
Cosponsors
Kirsten Gillibrand
NY • D
Sponsored 2/11/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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