U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) introduced the Extending WIC for New Moms Act, a bicameral bill to expand eligibility for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to postpartum women.
Introduce and support legislation to expand WIC eligibility for postpartum women.
Occurrences
Evidence
On May 16, 2023, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Representative Lucy McBath (D-GA-7) introduced the Extending WIC for New Moms Act, a bicameral bill aimed at expanding eligibility for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). The legislation proposes extending WIC eligibility in the postpartum period from 6 months to 24 months and in the breastfeeding period from 12 months to 24 months.
On March 19, 2026, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) co-introduced the Social Determinants for Moms Act, which aims to address various social determinants of maternal health, including nutrition. The bill seeks to establish a whole-of-government task force to tackle the maternal health crisis, indirectly supporting initiatives like WIC.
On March 25, 2026, Senators Angela Alsobrooks and Richard Blumenthal introduced the Extending WIC for New Moms Act, a bicameral bill to expand eligibility and support mothers and infants into the postpartum and breastfeeding periods through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) programs. This legislation extends WIC eligibility in the postpartum period from 6 months to 24 months and in the breastfeeding period from 12 months to 24 months.
On May 15, 2023, Senator Blumenthal introduced S.1593, the Extending WIC for New Moms Act, which aims to amend the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to extend eligibility of new moms for the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children.
Senators Richard Blumenthal and Angela Alsobrooks announced that they introduced the Extending WIC for New Moms Act, describing it as legislation to expand WIC eligibility and support mothers and infants through the postpartum and breastfeeding periods.
The senator's official legislation page lists S.4191, the Extending WIC for New Moms Act, with latest action showing it was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Assessments
Blumenthal fulfilled the promise because the promised action was to introduce and support legislation, not necessarily enact it. He introduced S.1593, the Extending WIC for New Moms Act, in the 118th Congress in May 2023, and later co-introduced a renewed version in March 2026. The bill directly matches the claim by extending WIC eligibility for postpartum women from 6 months to 24 months and breastfeeding eligibility from 12 months to 24 months. This occurred while he remained in federal office, so timing is same_term.
Multiple pieces of strong evidence show that Senator Blumenthal introduced and supported legislation specifically to expand WIC eligibility for postpartum women, including the Extending WIC for New Moms Act, which he introduced in 2023 and again in 2026. The promise specified introducing and supporting such legislation, which was fulfilled during the same Senate term. While enactment is not specified or required by the promise, the direct action of introduction and advocacy meets the criteria.
The evidence shows that Senator Richard Blumenthal co-introduced and supported the Extending WIC for New Moms Act, which directly fulfills the promise to introduce and support legislation to expand WIC eligibility for postpartum women. Multiple instances across the same term demonstrate repeated introduction and support for such legislation. This meets both the letter and the spirit of the promise.
Senator Blumenthal explicitly introduced and supported legislation—the Extending WIC for New Moms Act—aimed at expanding WIC eligibility for postpartum women. He also co-introduced other relevant maternal health bills addressing nutrition. The promise was to introduce and support such legislation, not necessarily guarantee its passage, which he fulfilled within the same term. Both documented efforts demonstrate clear delivery of the specific promise made.