Biden Administration Invests $53 Million To The WIC Program

The funding is backed by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021

The U.S Department of Agriculture is granting $53 million to improve technology and enhance the shopping experience for families who are apart of the Women, Infants and Children nutrition program.

The funding is backed by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The act aims to help state agencies, community groups, other nonprofit organizations as well as potential WIC participants.

As of February, nearly 6.2 million Americans participated in WIC which is an increase of 1.2% since February of 2020. North Carolina had the largest participant increase of 21% and New Mexico had the biggest decrease of 20%.

WIC provides food, nutrition education, breast feeding support and health care referrals to low income children up to the age of five and to pregnant and postpartum women.

The American Rescue Plan also expanded access to fruits and vegetables which increased the benefit amount to $35 a month per person.