Washington, D.C. – Congressman Eugene Vindman (D-Va.-07), member of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee, and Congressman Glenn “G.T.” Thompson (R-Pa.-15), U.S. House Agriculture Committee Chair, today introduced bipartisan legislation to better support women, infants, and children impacted by substance use disorder (SUD).
The Supporting Healthy Mothers and Infants Act would update the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 and expand the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to include support for women with SUD and infants and children with neonatal abstinence syndrome.
“By modernizing WIC to better support women and children affected by addiction, this bipartisan bill ensures that our community’s moms and babies have the best opportunity to stay healthy,” said Vindman. “The Supporting Healthy Mothers and Infants Act is a meaningful, bipartisan step in addressing the devastating impacts of the opioid and fentanyl crises. I’m proud to work with Chair Thompson to build healthier futures both in Virginia and across the country.”
“The opioid epidemic has impacted every community, regardless of demographics or socioeconomic status. It is particularly heartbreaking to see newborn babies suffering from opioid withdrawal,” said Thompson. “We have crafted legislation to help expectant mothers address substance abuse and support the unborn, by creating more opportunities for treatment, education, and prevention.”
Specifically, the Supporting Healthy Mothers and Infants Act would:
- Require USDA to develop and distribute nutrition education materials focused on substance use disorder and its impacts on breastfeeding and early childhood health;
- Require USDA to conduct targeted outreach to individuals impacted by SUD who may be eligible for WIC, leveraging existing state-level partnerships;
- Establish an online national clearinghouse for SUD-related educational and training materials, giving states and agencies easy access to resources developed under other federal laws.
The Supporting Healthy Mothers and Infants Act is supported by March of Dimes.
BACKGROUND
WIC is one of the most effective federal nutrition programs, providing healthy food, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and healthcare referrals to low-income pregnant women, mothers, and children under five. The new legislation would build on WIC’s success by tailoring its services to address the growing needs of families affected by substance use — including individuals in recovery and children born with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS).
In 2023, Virginia reported 117 cases of NAS, with a rate of 6.0 per 1,000 birth hospitalizations — ranking 22nd in the nation. These numbers reflect a persistent and urgent need to support families grappling with the effects of substance use during and after pregnancy. By modernizing WIC to include targeted education and outreach, the bill provides a critical lifeline to at-risk families and helps break the intergenerational cycle of addiction.
Children raised in households affected by substance use are significantly more likely to face mental health challenges and develop SUD themselves. Investing in early intervention through trusted programs like WIC is a cost-effective and compassionate way to address this crisis.
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