Sponsors (28)
The bill will improve targeted nutrition education and outreach for pregnant and postpartum people with substance use disorder and provides initial federal funding to launch materials, but limited funding, potential stigma-driven deterrence, and state implementation burdens may limit how many eligible people actually benefit.
Pregnant and postpartum people with substance use disorder and their newborns will receive evidence-based, pregnancy- and lactation-specific nutrition education and materials, improving maternal and infant health outcomes.
WIC-eligible individuals impacted by substance use disorder will get targeted outreach and access to a centralized clearinghouse of materials and provider training resources, increasing uptake of nutrition services at the state level.
A federal authorization of $1 million for FY2026 funds development and distribution of materials, enabling the clearinghouse and related resources to be launched without waiting for additional appropriations.
Linking WIC outreach and materials specifically to substance use disorder could deter some eligible participants from seeking services due to privacy concerns or ongoing stigma, reducing program uptake and harming intended beneficiaries.
The $1 million appropriation may be insufficient to develop, translate, and provide state-level training and support nationwide, limiting the reach, quality, and effectiveness of the clearinghouse materials.
States and local WIC agencies may face added administrative burden to review, adapt, and integrate clearinghouse materials into existing operations, creating implementation costs and potential delays.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Replaces outdated "drug abuse" language with "substance use disorder," requires USDA–HHS materials and outreach for WIC-eligible people affected by SUD and infants with prenatal exposure, and authorizes $1M for FY2026.
Introduced June 4, 2025 by Eugene Simon Vindman · Last progress June 4, 2025
Updates federal child nutrition law to replace outdated "drug abuse" terminology with "substance use disorder" and related modernized wording, and directs USDA to develop and share evidence-based WIC nutrition education and outreach materials for people affected by substance use disorder, including pregnant and postpartum people and infants affected by prenatal exposure and neonatal abstinence syndrome. It also requires USDA to collaborate with HHS on certain materials, create an online clearinghouse for state agencies, and authorizes $1,000,000 for FY2026 to implement these activities.