Iowa won’t participate in US food assistance program for kids this summer

Iowa has made the decision not to partake in the 2024 Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children (Summer EBT) program, a federal initiative that provides $40 per month to each child in low-income families to assist with food expenses during the summer break from school. This choice was officially communicated by the state’s Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Education in a news release issued on a Friday.

In the release, Iowa’s Republican Governor, Kim Reynolds, expressed the rationale behind this decision. She stated that federal cash benefit programs introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic are viewed as unsustainable and not offering long-term solutions to the challenges faced by children and families. Governor Reynolds also expressed concerns about the promotion of nutrition, particularly at a time when childhood obesity has become a prevalent issue. She suggested that the Biden Administration and Congress should invest in existing state-level programs and infrastructure, granting states the flexibility to tailor solutions to their specific needs.

One key factor in this decision is the financial burden on the state. States participating in the federal program are required to cover half of the administrative costs, which, in Iowa’s case, would amount to an estimated $2.2 million.

Notably, this decision has faced opposition from some state lawmakers, including Democratic Senator Izaah Knox of Des Moines. Senator Knox expressed disappointment and described the decision as “cruel and short-sighted,” emphasizing the real impact it could have on children and families in Iowa.

Nebraska, a neighboring state, also decided against participating in the Summer EBT program. Nebraska’s Republican Governor, Jim Pillen, cited a belief in solving problems without relying on welfare as a fundamental reason for this decision. However, Nebraska will continue to participate in another federal program called the Summer Food Service Program, which integrates activities such as reading, physical education, and nutrition education with food assistance.

Despite these decisions, a number of states, territories, and tribal nations, including Arizona, California, Kansas, and West Virginia, have expressed their intention to participate in the Summer EBT program in 2024. The National Conference of State Legislatures reports that at least 18 states and territories, along with the Cherokee Nation and Chickasaw Nation, are among those planning to partake in the program, while the deadline for states to declare their intent to participate is set for January 1.

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• [Iowa Won’t Participate in US Food Assistance Program for Kids](Insert Link)
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• [Governor Kim Reynolds’ Statement](Insert Link)
• [Nebraska’s Decision](Insert Link)
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• [National Conference of State Legislatures](Insert Link)