Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC): Implementation of Nondiscretionary WIC Certification and General Administrative Provisions

This is an affirmation by the Department of a final rule, without change, of an interim rule that amended the regulations for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) by implementing most of the nondiscretionary provisions of the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 that address participant certification and general program administration in the WIC Program. The rule implements the exclusions from income eligibility determinations set forth in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year (FY) 2006 and in the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, as amended, and clarifies an inconsistency related to fair hearings and notices of adverse actions that was inadvertently omitted in the publication of the Final WIC Miscellaneous Rule. Finally, this rulemaking includes technical amendments to correct the address and telephone numbers to which complaints alleging discrimination in the WIC Program should be directed, and to correct the address of the Western Regional Office of the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). The interim rule was necessary to implement the non-discretionary provisions of this law.