All content tagged with the term "USDA%20Updates".
May 27, 2021 -
News & Blog
December 29, 2020 -
News & Blog
NWA applauds the work of USDA and HHS for issuing the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025 with the inclusion, for the first time, of the unique life stages of infancy through 24 months, pregnancy, and lactation. As WIC providers, we recognize the importance of tailored life-stage nutrition guidance to shape lifelong positive nutrition habits to yield positive health outcomes. For WIC families and WIC staff, the DGAs are critical tools in support of positive birth, maternal, and child health outcomes.
December 21, 2020 -
News & Blog
On Sunday evening, Congressional leaders announced an end-of-year spending deal that includes about $900 billion in additional COVID-related aid. The announcement promises a six-month increase in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and creates a USDA task force on online purchasing in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). The announcement notably does not include a bipartisan proposal to increase WIC benefits for fruits and vegetables.
December 9, 2020 -
News & Blog
News reports confirm that President-Elect Joe Biden will select former Agriculture Secretary and former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack to reprise his role as USDA chief. NWA has outlined a number of important steps that Secretary Vilsack can take, when confirmed, to enhance access to WIC services, strengthen the food package, and improve health outcomes for WIC families.
Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, a bipartisan group of legislators unveiled a $908 billion framework for the Bipartisan Emergency COVID Relief Act of 2020, a new attempt to provide meaningful economic relief for those impacted by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the urging of the National WIC Association, the bipartisan framework includes a short-term increase to the Cash Value Benefit, which would authorize higher WIC benefit levels for fruit and vegetable purchases.
September 21, 2020 -
News & Blog
After months of constant and bold WIC waiver advocacy and coalition building by NWA, USDA announced an extension of WIC flexibilities until thirty days after the end of the nationally-declared public health emergency. NWA remains committed to assisting state agencies and frontline providers with navigating the federal emergency response and delivering quality services throughout the pandemic.
September 21, 2020 -
News & Blog
This morning, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced an extension of WIC flexibilities until thirty days after the end of the nationally-declared public health emergency. Rev. Douglas Greenaway, President & CEO of the National WIC Association, issued the following statement in response.
September 3, 2020 -
News & Blog
WIC providers know that COVID-19 is not going away. WIC clinics populated by young children are not equipped for safe social distancing. In several states where clinics have reopened, services have been disrupted or shut down as clinic staff has been exposed to or contracted COVID-19. We cannot put clinic staff or WIC families at life-threatening health risk.