Bill > S4191

This bill, titled the "Extending WIC for New Moms Act," aims to expand the duration that new mothers can receive benefits from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, commonly known as WIC. WIC is a federal program that provides nutritional support, including food vouchers, nutrition education, and healthcare referrals, to low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum individuals, and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk. Specifically, this legislation proposes to extend the postpartum eligibility period from six months to 24 months and to extend the breastfeeding period from one year to 24 months, ensuring continued support for mothers and their infants for a longer duration. Additionally, the bill mandates that the Secretary of Agriculture, within two years of enactment, must report to Congress on the impact of these changes on maternal and infant health outcomes, breastfeeding rates, family experiences with the WIC program, and other relevant information.