More Options to Develop and Enhance Remote Nutrition in WIC Act of 2022 or the MODERN WIC Act of 2022
This bill makes various changes to allow individuals to remotely certify their eligibility for, and receive benefits through, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
The Department of Agriculture must also report to Congress about the use of remote technologies and other tools in the WIC program.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6781 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6781
To amend the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to permit video or telephone
certifications under the special supplemental nutrition program for
women, infants, and children, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 18, 2022
Mr. Levin of Michigan (for himself, Ms. Herrera Beutler, and Ms.
Roybal-Allard) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and Labor
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to permit video or telephone
certifications under the special supplemental nutrition program for
women, infants, and children, 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 ``More Options to Develop and Enhance
Remote Nutrition in WIC Act of 2022'' or the ``MODERN WIC Act of
2022''.
SEC. 2. PRESENCE AT CERTIFICATION.
(a) In General.--Section 17(d)(3)(C) of the Child Nutrition Act of
1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(d)(3)(C)) is amended--
(1) in the subparagraph heading, by striking ``Physical
presence'' and inserting ``Presence'';
(2) in clause (i), by striking ``physically present at each
certification or recertification determination'' and inserting
``present at each certification or recertification, either in
person or through video technology permitting 2-way, real-time
interactive communications,''; and
(3) in clause (ii)--
(A) in subclause (I), in the matter preceding item
(aa), by striking ``an infant or child'' and inserting
``any eligible individual'';
(B) by redesignating subclauses (I) through (III)
as subclauses (II) through (IV), respectively; and
(C) by inserting before subclause (II) (as so
redesignated) the following:
``(I) any eligible individual--
``(aa) who completes the
certification process through a
telephone appointment or other
remote technology; and
``(bb) for whom all
necessary certification
information is obtained not
more than 90 days before or
after the certification
appointment;''.
(b) Technical Amendment.--Section 17(d)(3) of the Child Nutrition
Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(d)(3)) is amended by conforming the margin
of subparagraph (B) to the margin of subparagraph (C).
SEC. 3. REMOTE BENEFIT ISSUANCE.
(a) In General.--Section 17(f)(6)(B) of the Child Nutrition Act of
1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(f)(6)(B)) is amended--
(1) in the third sentence--
(A) by striking ``vouchers by mail'' and inserting
``food instruments''; and
(B) by striking ``The Secretary'' and inserting the
following:
``(iii) Disapproval of state plan.--The
Secretary'';
(2) in the second sentence--
(A) by striking ``vouchers by mail in its plan''
and inserting ``food instruments by mail, remote
issuance, or other means in the State plan''; and
(B) by striking ``The State'' and inserting the
following:
``(ii) State plan.--The State''; and
(3) by striking ``(B) State agencies'' and all that follows
through ``to obtain vouchers.'' and inserting the following:
``(B) Delivery of vouchers.--
``(i) In general.--State agencies may
provide for the delivery of food instruments,
including electronic benefit transfer cards, to
any participant through means that do not
require the participant to travel to the local
agency to obtain food instruments, such as
through mailing or remote issuance.''.
(b) Regulations.--The Secretary shall revise section 246.12(r) of
title 7, Code of Federal Regulations, by striking paragraph (4).
SEC. 4. ANNUAL INVESTMENT IN WIC TECHNOLOGIES.
Section 17(h) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C.
1786(h)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2)(B)--
(A) by striking clause (ii); and
(B) by striking the subparagraph designation and
all that follows through ``clause (ii) and'' and
inserting the following:
``(B) Allocation for nutrition services and
administration.--Except as provided in''; and
(2) in paragraph (10)--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``2010 through
2015'' and inserting ``2023 through 2028''; and
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking clause (ii)
and inserting the following:
``(ii) $60,000,000 shall be used to
establish, develop, improve, replace, or
administer technology platforms, including
management information systems, that enhance
program services, access to the program, or
redemption of benefits, of which up to
$5,000,000 may be used for Federal
administrative costs; and''.
SEC. 5. REPORT TO CONGRESS.
(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and the Committee on
Education and Labor of the House of Representatives a report on the use
of remote technologies under the special supplemental nutrition program
for women, infants, and children established by section 17 of the Child
Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786) (referred to in this section as
the ``program'').
(b) Content of Report.--The report submitted under subsection (a)
shall include a description of--
(1) the use of remote technologies and other digital tools,
including video, telephone, and online platforms--
(A) to certify eligible individuals for program
services; and
(B) to provide nutrition education and
breastfeeding support to program participants;
(2) the impact of remote technologies, including video,
telephone, and online platforms, on certifications,
appointments, and participant satisfaction under the program;
and
(3) best practices--
(A) to certify program participants for program
services using remote technologies;
(B) to incorporate the use of digital tools into
the program certification process;
(C) to integrate nutrition education and
breastfeeding support services for program participants
into remote technologies and platforms; and
(D) to securely manage program participant data.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
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