On June 17, the National WIC Association (NWA), Bread for the World, and the Alliance to End Hunger hosted a Congressional briefing where U.S. Representatives and advocates pushed for passage of the MODERN WIC Act, support for WIC’s Cash Value Benefit (CVB), and full funding for the program.
The briefing highlighted WIC’s successes as a public health nutrition program throughout its more than 50-year history, focusing on innovations like remote services, which have made it easier for parents to access benefits, and the Cash Value Benefit (CVB), which families use to purchase fruits and vegetables.
The Modern WIC Act
Through recorded remarks, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) emphasized the bipartisan importance of modernizing WIC to meet families’ needs. Their bipartisan bill, the Modern WIC Act (H.R.1464), would make permanent the remote service flexibilities that have helped families access WIC safely and easily. Currently, WIC is allowed to certify participants and issue benefits virtually, but unless Congress acts, these vital options will disappear after September 2026, putting families at risk of losing timely access to benefits.
“No mother should have to take three buses, miss work, or find childcare just to keep her benefits, and no child should wait weeks for the nutritional support that they need right now,” Rep. Fitzpatrick said.
One of the most powerful moments came from Jehimy Benitez, a WIC mom and Breastfeeding Peer Counselor from Maryland, who attended the briefing with her 4-year-old daughter, Alison. Shortly after Jehimy became a mom at 17, she enrolled in WIC over the phone.
“Remote services were the bridge that made it possible for me to start,” Jehimy said. “And even now, with a busy work schedule and a growing child, the flexibility WIC offers means I can stay engaged without missing work or disrupting our routine. WIC truly meets families where they are, and that matters.”
Protecting the Fruits and Vegetable Benefits
Advocates also called for Congress to push back against steep cuts to the CVB from President Trump and Republicans in Congress. The CVB, also known as WIC’s fruit and vegetable benefit, is what WIC participants use to buy produce for their families. If Congress moves forward with these cuts, families could lose more than half of this vital support, up to 75% for some participants.
Jehimy shared how WIC’s fruit and vegetable benefit has transformed her family’s health: “The extra support made a huge difference in my home. It meant I didn’t have to choose between nutritious foods and other necessities, and then I could bring fresh produce home for my daughter and teach her what it means to be healthy. It’s not just about access—it’s about building habits, confidence, and a foundation for lifelong wellness.”
How You Can Help
Take Action: Contact your Congress members and urge them to support the MODERN WIC Act and full funding for WIC.
Speak Out for the CVB: Make your voice heard! Let your representatives know that WIC's fruit and vegetable benefit and full funding of WIC are essential to our nation's health.