Gillibrand pushing to make pandemic changes to WIC Program permanent

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — A New York Senator is pushing to make one pandemic change permanent.

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program provides critical support for mothers and young children to make sure they have the food they need.

The program went remote during the pandemic, allowing families to certify and recertify for services remotely.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D) wants to make that change permanent, keeping pace with the lives of families that rely on them.

"Something as necessary as nutrition support should not needlessly be difficult to access,” Gillibrand said. “And something as simple as loading a WIC EBT card should never be a roadblock keeping families from putting food on the table."

Gillibrand said the Modern WIC Act would invest $60 million to modernize and increase access to the critical safety net program.