FNS is seeking public comment on its intent to ask the Office of Management and Budget to extend approval of the information collection under OMB approval #0584-0654 from Jan. 31, 2022 until Aug. 27, 2023.
The following report addresses actions taken by FNS to comply with the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021 which directed USDA to establish a Task Force to study measures to streamline the redemption of WIC benefits in a manner that promotes convenience, safety, and equitable access to WIC supplemental foods for participants in the WIC program.
The Further Extending Government Funding Act of 2022 directs USDA to extend through the second quarter of fiscal year 2022 the temporary increase in the WIC Cash-Value Voucher/Benefit for fruit and vegetable purchases. The increased amount applies to all women and children participants and aligns with recommendations by the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine.
FNS published a document in the Federal Register of Nov. 8, 2021, concerning a Request for Information about establishing a resource center that supports state and local WIC agencies in improving the application and certification journey. The original notice is missing a contact email. To avoid any confusion, we are re-publishing the notice in its entirety with the missing email information.
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on this proposed information collection.
FNS is committed to supporting WIC state agencies that are pursuing online ordering and online transactions. Bringing these shopping innovations to our participants is expected to improve the WIC shopping experience, increase equity in the program by allowing participants to shop like all other shoppers, and increase WIC benefit redemptions.
FNS is proposing to add a new system of records, entitled USDA/FNS-12, which will replace The Integrity Profile (TIP) as the system used to house State agency vendor management data for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.
Under Section 118 of this Continuing Resolution, USDA is directed during the first quarter of fiscal year 2022 (Oct. 1, 2021 to Dec. 31, 2021) to temporarily increase the WIC Cash-Value Voucher/Benefit (CVV/B) for fruit and vegetable purchases for women and children participants to an amount recommended by the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) and adjusted for inflation.
This final Task Force report includes comprehensive recommendations to USDA on next steps to advance WIC innovations associated with modern transaction models and participant redemption of supplemental foods.
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 provided USDA with $390 million, available through FY 2024, to carry out outreach, innovation, and program modernization efforts to increase participation and redemption of benefits for both WIC and WIC FMNP.