FMC Applauds Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act

By: Maranda Raskin, Policy Intern       Posted On: July 22, 2022

Glenwood Sunday Market

On Wednesday, July 20, 2022 the House Education and Labor Chairman, Bobby Scott (D-VA), released the Committee’s revitalized Child Nutrition Reauthorization bill called the Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act. The proposed legislation addresses key child nutrition issues and provides funding and resources to programs like the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) that promote access to healthy food for children and their families across the country.  The Farmers Market Coalition (FMC) commends Congress for effectively addressing our 2022 WIC FMNP Policy Priorities.  Some of the new provisions include:

• Develop eWIC solutions for farmers markets:
  • Each state agency must select at least three vendors for online WIC purchases by October 1, 2025 and require a report to Congress on the implementation of online and mobile payments in WIC.
  • $40,000,000 set aside in annual discretionary appropriations in FY 2023 through FY 2028 to support retailers, particularly small businesses, in modernization efforts.

• Increase WIC FMNP Accessibility:
  • Allows for WIC FMNP benefits to be redeemed at a central point of sale, making it easier to redeem benefits at a farmers market. 
  • Eliminates the state matching requirement for states and tribal state agencies for FMNP.
  • Increases the minimum FMNP benefit level to $20, eliminates the maximum benefit level, and increases administrative funds for states.

The FMC celebrates our lawmakers’ efforts and encourages the passage of the Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act in both the House and the Senate. This year’s Farmers Market Week slogan is farmers markets don’t just happen. We will continue to advocate for farmers markets at the national level and work so that everyone has access to healthy food.