Rep. Watson Coleman Introduces the WIC Collaboration Study Act
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) introduced the WIC Collaboration Study Act, legislation directing the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on interagency data sharing and collaboration between the state agencies that administer WIC (the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children), SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), and Medicaid.
This study will evaluate how improved data sharing between these agencies could help streamline enrollment processes, reduce administrative burdens, and increase access to critical nutrition and healthcare programs for eligible families. The legislation specifically tasks the Government Accountability Office (GAO) with analyzing how existing or potential partnerships between state agencies could simplify certification procedures, identify enrollment gaps, and reduce duplication in paperwork or eligibility assessments.
“Every family in this country deserves efficient access to the support systems that keep them healthy and secure,” said Congresswoman Watson Coleman. “This legislation is about ensuring that our state agencies are working together, so that when those most vulnerable qualify for SNAP or Medicaid, they’re not being left behind in WIC because of bureaucratic hurdles. Inter-agency coordination can mean more children receiving nutritious food and families getting the resources and care that they need not just to survive - but to thrive.”
The study will also assess the role of nonprofit organizations in supporting WIC enrollment, explore the costs and benefits of interagency data sharing, and consider how digital tools and joint applications could improve service delivery.
The WIC Collaboration Study Act can be read here.