Summary
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. This collection is a revision of a currently approved collection for awarding local agencies for excellence in WIC breastfeeding services and support. The Child Nutrition Act of 1966 at 42 U.S. Code § 1786(h)(4)(B), requires that the Department of Agriculture (USDA) establish a program to recognize WIC local agencies and clinics that demonstrate exemplary breastfeeding promotion and support activities.
Request for Comments
Written comments must be received on or before May 11, 2026.
The Food and Nutrition Service, USDA, invites interested persons to submit written comment.
- Preferred Method: Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to Regulations.gov and follow the online instructions for submitting comments electronically.
- Mail: Send comments to: Kristin Garcia, Director, Food Safety and Nutrition Division, Supplemental Nutrition and Safety Programs, Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1320 Braddock Pl, Alexandria, VA 22314.
All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for Office of Management and Budget approval. All comments will be a matter of public record.
Abstract
This information collection is mandated by the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 at 42 U.S. Code § 1786(h)(4)(B), herein referred to as the Child Nutrition Act. The Child Nutrition Act requires USDA to implement a program to recognize exemplary breastfeeding support practices at WIC local agencies and clinics. The WIC program provides breastfeeding promotion and support for pregnant and postpartum mothers as a part of its mission to improve the health of the approximately 6.7 million Americans it serves each month. Breastfeeding is a priority in WIC and WIC mothers are strongly encouraged to breastfeed their infants unless medically contraindicated.
In recognizing exemplary local agencies and clinics, the Child Nutrition Act requires the Secretary to consider the following criteria: (1) performance measurements of breastfeeding; (2) the effectiveness of a peer counselor program; (3) the extent to which the agency or clinic has partnered with other entities to build a supportive breastfeeding environment for women participating in WIC; and (4) other criteria the Secretary considers appropriate after consultation with state and local program agencies. The information will be submitted voluntarily by WIC local agencies who will be applying for an award. FNS will use the information collected to evaluate the components of existing breastfeeding programs and support in WIC local agencies and make decisions about awards. This program is expected to provide models of breastfeeding support excellence and motivate local agencies and clinics to strengthen their breastfeeding promotion and support activities.
A notable improvement from past collection requests is that FNS plans to explore ways to streamline the application questions and instructions for local agencies. WIC state agencies will continue to conduct their evaluation on PartnerWeb, which was modernized in fiscal year (FY) 2025 for a better user experience. The total estimated time for local WIC agencies to complete the application is not expected to change.