Paulin’s Legislation Making it Easier for Businesses to Provide Nutritious Food to Pregnant Women and Infants Passes Assembly

Assemblywoman (D-88th A.D.) legislation will expedite temporary permits for businesses to participate in the WIC program. The WIC program supplies supplemental nutrition to women, infants and children through federal funds which are administered after state and local approvals. The legislation will allow retailers who have already been approved to participate in WIC at another location to be issued a temporary permit within fourteen days of submitting a completed application.

“This bill seeks to simplify an overly cumbersome and bureaucratic process to allow local supermarkets and grocery stores to help those in need – poor women, infants and children – to get necessary groceries,” declared Assemblymember Paulin.  “By allowing temporary permits to be granted to previously approved vendors, this bill benefits everyone – the vulnerable families as well as the businesses that seek to help them.”

“It’s ironic that most NY retailers are able to get a temporary liquor license in about 48 hours,” stated Mitch Klein, Vice President of Government Relations for Krasdale Foods.  “However, even if a retailer is already a NY WIC vendor, when they open a new store they must reapply and will usually have to wait 90+ days to become a WIC vendor to sell staples such as milk, juice, formula and eggs.  Finally there is a bill that addresses the needs of the WIC recipient!”

Michael Rosen, Senior Vice President of Government Relations and General Counsel of the Food Industry Alliance of NYS said “We applaud Assemblymember Paulin for taking the leadership role on this issue and steering this bill forward.  This legislation will make a difference in needy communities and will bring federal dollars into New York State.” 

-Contributed by the Office of Amy Paulin.