Media Contact:
Jordan Baker
jbaker@frac.org
980-290-7282
Letter urges Congress to fully fund WIC, maintain the current fruit and vegetable benefit, continue flexible service options
WASHINGTON, June 1, 2026 – The Food Research & Action Center (FRAC), along with more than 342 national, state, and local organizations across the country, is urging Congress to protect and strengthen the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). In a letter, organizations are warning that the proposed House Appropriations Committee Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Agriculture bill would fail to provide critical funding for WIC, weakening access to nutrition for families with low incomes.
WIC provides nearly 7 million pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, infants, and children up to age 5 found to be at nutrition risk in households with low income nutrition education, breastfeeding support, health care referrals, and access to vitally needed nutritious foods during the most essential periods for healthy development.
“Poor nutrition has serious consequences for infant, child, and maternal health,” said Crystal FitzSimons, president of FRAC. “WIC is proven to support positive health outcomes and generate local economic activity, but it can only be effective if people can access the program and have the full range of evidence-based benefits.”
The appropriations bill provides $200 million less than the $8.2 billion enacted for FY 2026, falling short of what is needed to ensure WIC access and uphold meaningful benefit levels. It would also reduce the WIC cash value benefit (CVB), which helps families purchase fruits and vegetables, by approximately 10 percent.
Additionally, the bill’s failure to make permanent the flexible service options that allow WIC participants to complete certification and recertification by phone and video appointments, instead of requiring an in-person visit, puts essential WIC modernization at risk. Flexible service options make WIC more efficient and address barriers such as transportation for rural families. The letter explains that, without congressional action, these flexible service options could end as early as September 30, creating new barriers for families and WIC clinics.
“WIC has been a bedrock of our nation’s health for more than 50 years, and we cannot afford to weaken the program’s reach or its benefits, especially as families continue to face rising costs for food, housing, and other basic needs,” said FitzSimons. “We urge Congress to continue its long-standing bipartisan support for WIC by fully funding the program, maintaining the current value of the fruit and vegetable benefit, and ensuring current flexible service options continue.”
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About Food Research & Action Center
The Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) improves the nutrition, health, and well-being of people struggling against poverty-related hunger in the United States through advocacy, partnerships, and by advancing bold and equitable policy solutions. To learn more, visit FRAC.org and follow us on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky.