SLS 14RS-156 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2014
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 20
BY SENATOR HEITMEIER
HEALTH/HOSPITALS DEPT. Directs Department of Health and Hospitals to submit a
Medicaid state plan amendment to the federal government that will permit WIC cash value
vouchers to be used at farmers' markets.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To direct the Department of Health and Hospitals to submit a Medicaid state plan2
amendment to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and3
Children, popularly known as "WIC", to provide for participation of Louisiana4
farmers in the WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program, in which farmers agree to5
accept vouchers from participants in the WIC program for fresh, nutritious, locally-6
grown foods.7
WHEREAS, the WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program, hereinafter "FMNP", was8
established by Congress in 1992 to provide fresh, unprepared, locally grown fruits and9
vegetables for sale to WIC participants; and10
WHEREAS, through FMNP, Congress sought to expand the awareness and use of11
and sales at farmers' markets as these outlets began to expand across the United States; and12
WHEREAS, through the years of the WIC program, Congress has made numerous13
attempts to ensure that the healthiest options are available for purchase by those eligible to14
receive WIC benefits; and15
WHEREAS, as large supermarkets with substantial produce departments continue16
to be unavailable to substantial numbers of those receiving WIC benefits, farmers' markets17
have expanded in many of these areas in order to bring more nutritious options to WIC18 SCR NO. 20
SLS 14RS-156 ORIGINAL
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beneficiaries; and1
WHEREAS, over the more than twenty years of the FMNP, farmers' markets have2
expanded in Louisiana and have become more available for many Louisiana citizens,3
providing both a source of fresh nutritious foods and a market for the farmers of these more4
nutritious products; and5
WHEREAS, as of 2012, more than twenty states were offering the option of spending6
WIC vouchers at farmers' markets operating within those states; and7
WHEREAS, direct marketing of farm products through farmers' markets continues8
to be an important sales outlet for agricultural producers nationwide and Louisiana continues9
to expand access to farmers' markets throughout the state; and10
WHEREAS, expanding WIC to farmers who participate in local farmers' markets11
takes advantage of this integral part of the urban/farm linkage; and 12
WHEREAS, while these markets have continued to grow in popularity primarily due13
to the growing consumer interest in obtaining fresh products directly from the farm, it14
follows logically that WIC participants would have the same interest in the availability of15
fresh food products direct from the farm.16
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby17
direct the Department of Health and Hospitals to submit a Medicaid state plan amendment18
to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children to provide19
for participation of Louisiana farmers in the WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program, in20
which farmers agree to accept vouchers from participants in the WIC program for fresh,21
nutritious, locally-grown foods.22
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the23
secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals.24
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Mary Dozier O'Brien.
DIGEST
Heitmeier SCR No. 20
Directs DHH to submit a Medicaid state plan amendment to the WIC program, to provide
for participation of Louisiana farmers in the WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program, in
which farmers agree to accept vouchers from participants in the WIC program for fresh,
nutritious, locally-grown foods.