June 11, 2026
Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania (for himself and Mr. Soto) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce
To require that juice be the default benefit under certain WIC food packages.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Juice Access Improvement Act
.
Sec. 2. Juice as default benefit under certain WIC food packages
(a) In general
In carrying out the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children under section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786), the Secretary shall, with respect to a covered Food Package, require State agencies to—
(1)
establish juice as the default benefit; and
(2)
authorize that a $3 cash-value voucher substitution for juice (to be adjusted annually for inflation consistent with the annual inflation adjustments made to cash-value voucher values for women and children) be available upon request by a participant in such program.
(b) Revision of rules
The Secretary shall issue or revise such rules as are necessary to carry out this section, including revision of paragraph (e)(10) of section 246.10 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations and table 2 relating to such paragraph (as in effect on the date of the enactment of this section).
(c) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Cash-value voucher
The term cash-value voucher
has the meaning given the term in section 246.2 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of the enactment of this section).
(2) Covered Food Package
The term covered Food Package
means the following food packages under section 246.10(e) of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of the enactment of this section):
(A)
Food Package IV—Children 1 through 4 years.
(B)
Food Package V—Pregnant and partially (mostly) breastfeeding women.
(C)
Food Package VI—Postpartum women.
(D)
Food Package VII—Fully breastfeeding.
(3) Juice
The term juice
means juice meeting the minimum requirements and specifications for supplemental foods under table 4 to paragraph (e)(12) of section 246.10 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of the enactment of this section).
(4) Secretary
The term Secretary
means the Secretary of Agriculture.