FNS Documents & Resources

USDA FNS is proposing to add a new system of records, entitled USDA/FNS–13, Mercury, which is a Consumer Off the Shelf workflow system designed to automate the correspondence tracking and management process within FNS.

FNS is proposing to amend its regulations to make access and parity improvements within several food distribution programs, including the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, The Emergency Food Assistance Program, and USDA Foods disaster response. The proposed provisions use plain language to make them easier to read and understand.

USDA has legislative authority to grant waivers to WIC and FMNP state agencies. The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 grants temporary waiver authority to WIC and WIC FMNP for the purpose of outreach, modernization, and innovation and The Access to Baby Formula Act of 2022 grants permanent waiver authority to WIC during certain emergencies and supply chain disruptions. This information collection request covers activities associated with the waiver request process.

This agenda provides summary descriptions of significant and not significant regulations being developed in FNS.

FNS plans to conduct an annual assessment through the School Meals Operations Study in SY 2023–24. This notice covers the fourth year of the SMO Study, which will collect data from state and local agencies on the CN COVID–19 waivers as well as data on state and local CN program operations during SY 2022–23. Data collection will occur in SY 2023–24.

The information collected from the individuals and households permits them to apply for benefits (including assistance during disasters or situations of distress) or to recertify their eligibility. FNS uses this information to manage the Food Distribution Programs and monitor the use of federal funds.

This study informs USDA FNS about the reasons behind under-redemption of the cash-value benefit (CVB) issued to participants in WIC.

The FNS WIC Participant and Program Characteristics Study report describes demographic, income, breastfeeding, and health-related information of a census of WIC participants as well as information on the benefits they receive through WIC.

Secretary of Agriculture, do hereby proclaim August 1–7, 2023, as National WIC Breastfeeding Week.

This is a new information collection for WIC and WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program which contains the reporting burden associated with requesting waivers authorized under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and the American Baby Formula Act of 2022.