WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) is a federal program that provides low-income pregnant and postpartum women with access to nutritious foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education — but new mothers currently lose that eligibility just six months after giving birth, or after one year if they are breastfeeding. The Extending WIC for New Moms Act would stretch both of those windows to 24 months, giving new mothers two full years of WIC support regardless of whether they are breastfeeding. Researchers and health advocates have noted that maternal nutritional needs don't disappear in the first few months and that longer support could improve long-term outcomes. The Agriculture Department would be required to report to Congress within two years on how the change affects maternal and infant health, including whether it reduces racial and ethnic disparities in outcomes.
Average Household Impact
- WIC postpartum eligibility — Extended from 6 months to 24 months for new mothers
- WIC breastfeeding eligibility — Extended from 1 year to 24 months
Transparency & Accountability
- Maternal health outcome reporting — USDA required to report on health impacts and racial disparities within 2 years of enactment
Congressional Summary
Extending WIC for New Moms ActThis bill extends the eligibility periods for breastfeeding and postpartum women under the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Specifically, a state program may elect to certify a breastfeeding woman for up to 24 months (currently 1 year) postpartum. The bill also expands the eligibility period for postpartum women to up to 24 months after termination of pregnancy (currently 6 months).The Department of Agriculture must submit a report to Congress evaluating the effect of these changes to the WIC program on (1) maternal and infant health outcomes, (2) breastfeeding rates, and (3) qualitative evaluations of family experiences under WIC.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- Senate
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in Senate
- Action Date
- 2026-03-25
- Date Added
- 2026-06-19
- Source
- Congress.gov →
Like reading a bill in plain English?
We're building an app that does this for every bill in Congress and lets you tell your reps how you want them to vote. We're a small team getting ready to launch, and we're trying to show investors that real people want this. Be one of them. Help us get it built. Leave your email and we'll tell you the moment the app is ready.