COVID–19 WIC Safety and Modernization Act

I 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. R. 7933 To establish a task force on supplemental foods delivery in the special supplemental nutrition program, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AUGUST 4, 2020 Mr. LEVIN of Michigan (for himself and Ms. STEFANIK) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor A BILL To establish a task force on supplemental foods delivery in the special supplemental nutrition program, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘COVID–19 WIC Safe- 4 ty and Modernization Act’’. 5 SEC. 2. TASK FORCE ON SUPPLEMENTAL FOODS DELIVERY 6 IN THE SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION 7 PROGRAM. 8 (a) ESTABLISHMENT OF TASK FORCE.—Not later 9 than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this sec- 10 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:22 Aug 21, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H7933.IH H7933 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 7933 IH tion, the Secretary shall establish a task force on supple- 1 mental foods delivery in the special supplemental nutrition 2 program (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Task Force’’). 3 (b) MEMBERSHIP.— 4 (1) COMPOSITION.—The Task Force shall be 5 composed of at least 1 member but not more than 6 3 members appointed by the Secretary from each of 7 the following: 8 (A) Retailers of supplemental foods. 9 (B) Representatives of State agencies. 10 (C) Representatives of Indian State agen- 11 cies. 12 (D) Representatives of local agencies. 13 (E) Technology companies with experience 14 maintaining the special supplemental nutrition 15 program information systems and technology, 16 including management information systems or 17 electronic benefit transfer services. 18 (F) Manufacturers of supplemental foods. 19 (G) Participants in the special supple- 20 mental nutrition program from diverse loca- 21 tions. 22 (H) Other organizations that have experi- 23 ence with and knowledge of the special supple- 24 mental nutrition program. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:22 Aug 21, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H7933.IH H7933 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 7933 IH (2) LIMITATION ON MEMBERSHIP.—The Task 1 Force shall be composed of not more than 20 mem- 2 bers. 3 (c) DUTIES.— 4 (1) STUDY.—The Task Force shall study meas- 5 ures to streamline the redemption of supplemental 6 foods benefits that promote convenience, safety, and 7 equitable access to supplemental foods, including in- 8 fant formula, for participants in the special supple- 9 mental nutrition program, including— 10 (A) online and telephonic ordering and 11 curbside pickup of, and payment for, supple- 12 mental foods; 13 (B) online and telephonic purchasing of 14 supplemental foods; 15 (C) home delivery of supplemental foods; 16 (D) self checkout for purchases of supple- 17 mental foods; and 18 (E) other measures that limit or eliminate 19 consumer presence in a physical store. 20 (2) REPORT BY TASK FORCE.—Not later than 21 September 30, 2021, the Task Force shall submit to 22 the Secretary a report that includes— 23 (A) the results of the study required under 24 paragraph (1); and 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:22 Aug 21, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H7933.IH H7933 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 7933 IH (B) recommendations with respect to such 1 results. 2 (3) REPORT BY SECRETARY.—Not later than 3 45 days after receiving the report required under 4 paragraph (2), the Secretary shall— 5 (A) submit to Congress a report that in- 6 cludes— 7 (i) a plan with respect to carrying out 8 the recommendations received by the Sec- 9 retary in such report under paragraph (2); 10 and 11 (ii) an assessment of whether legisla- 12 tive changes are necessary to carry out 13 such plan; and 14 (B) notify the Task Force of the submis- 15 sion of the report required under subparagraph 16 (A). 17 (4) PUBLICATION.—The Secretary shall make 18 publicly available on the website of the Department 19 of Agriculture— 20 (A) the report received by the Secretary 21 under paragraph (2); and 22 (B) the report submitted by the Secretary 23 under paragraph (3)(A). 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:22 Aug 21, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H7933.IH H7933 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 5 •HR 7933 IH (d) TERMINATION.—The Task Force shall terminate 1 on the date the Secretary submits the report required 2 under paragraph (3)(A). 3 (e) NONAPPLICABILITY OF FACA.—The Federal Ad- 4 visory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to 5 the Task Force. 6 (f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 7 (1) LOCAL AGENCY.—The term ‘‘local agency’’ 8 has the meaning given the term in section 17(b) of 9 the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 10 1786(b)). 11 (2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 12 the Secretary of Agriculture. 13 (3) SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION PRO- 14 GRAM.—The term ‘‘special supplemental nutrition 15 program’’ means the special supplemental nutrition 16 program under section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act 17 of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786). 18 (4) STATE AGENCY.—The term ‘‘State agency’’ 19 has the meaning given the term in section 17(b) of 20 the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 21 1786(b)). 22 (5) SUPPLEMENTAL FOODS.—The term ‘‘sup- 23 plemental foods’’ has the meaning given the term in 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:22 Aug 21, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H7933.IH H7933 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 6 •HR 7933 IH section 17(b) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 1 U.S.C. 1786(b)). 2 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:22 Aug 21, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H7933.IH H7933 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS