H.R. 10393 – Reading Mode

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 10393

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 15, 2026

Mrs. Hayes (for herself, Ms. Norton, Mr. Horsford, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, Ms. Pingree, Ms. Simon, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Mr. Costa, Ms. Brown, Mr. Moulton, Ms. Barragán, Mr. Gomez, Mr. Bell, Mr. Carter of Louisiana, Mrs. McIver, Ms. Dean of Pennsylvania, Mr. Courtney, Mr. Kennedy of New York, Mr. Thanedar, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, Ms. Wilson of Florida, Ms. Williams of Georgia, Ms. Jacobs, Mr. Keating, Ms. Scanlon, and Mr. Goldman of New York) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce

A BILL

To amend the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to extend certain certification periods for the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the WIC for Kids Act.

Extension of certain WIC certification periods

(a)

Expansion of adjunctive eligibility

Section 17(d)(2)(A) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(d)(2)(A)) is amended—

(1)

in clause (ii)—

(A)

in subclause (I), by inserting resides in a household (as such term is defined in section 3 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2012)) that includes an individual who before receives; and

(B)

in subclause (II), by striking ; or and inserting a semicolon;

(2)

by amending clause (iii) to read as follows:

(iii)

(I)

receives medical assistance under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) or child health assistance under title XXI of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1397aa et seq.); or

(II)

is a member of a family in which a pregnant woman, postpartum woman, infant, or child receives such assistance or is enrolled as described in subclause (I);

; and

(3)

by adding at the end the following:

(iv)

is enrolled as a Head Start participant in a program authorized under the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.) or resides in a household in which one or more children is enrolled as a participant in such a Head Start program;

(v)

resides in a household that includes an individual who receives assistance under the food distribution program on Indian reservations established under section 4(b) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2013(b)); or

(vi)

resides in a household that includes an individual who receives assistance from a nutrition assistance program funded by the consolidated block grants for Puerto Rico and the American Samoa established under section 19 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2028) or funded by a block grant for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands pursuant to section 601 of Public Law 96–597 (48 U.S.C. 1469d(c)).

(b)

Adjunct documentation

Section 17(d)(3)(E) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(d)(3)(E)) is amended to read as follows:

(E)

Adjunct documentation

In order to participate in the program under this section pursuant to clause (ii) through (vi) of paragraph (2)(A), not earlier than 90 days prior to the date on which the certification or recertification for participation in the program is made—

(i)

an individual shall provide documentation of receipt of assistance described in such clause; or

(ii)

a State agency shall use available documentation to show receipt of such assistance.

(c)

Certification within one household family

Section 17(d)(3)(A) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(d)(3)(A)) is amended—

(1)

in clause (i), by striking clause (ii) and inserting clauses (ii) through (viii);

(2)

by inserting or recertified after certified; and

(3)

by adding at the end the following:

(iv)

Certification within one household family

In order to align certification periods or recertification appointments, when a State or local agency certifies an individual based on income documentation under subparagraph (D) or adjunct documentation under subparagraph (E), a new certification period that otherwise meets the requirements of the program may be initiated for eligible family members of such individual.

(v)

Certification of infants

A State shall certify for participation, without further application, an infant born to a pregnant individual who is participating in the program pursuant to clause (iii) of paragraph (2)(A).

(vi)

Recertification

Before requesting new income documentation for purposes of recertifying an individual under the program, a State shall—

(I)

determine whether such individual is eligible for recertification under subparagraph (E); and

(II)

if such individual is so eligible—

(aa)

recertify such individual; and

(bb)

notify such individual of such recertification.

(d)

Extension of child certification periods

Section 17(d)(3)(A)(iii) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(d)(3)(A)(iii)) is amended by striking 1 year and inserting 2 years.

(e)

Automatic eligibility for children in kinship families

Section 17(f)(1)(C)(ix) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(f)(1)(C)(ix)) is amended by inserting a kinship family, after under the care of.