A novel, eternal summer food program will be almost 21 million children in 37 states will get enough to eat during school holidays this year.
But 13 states with Republican governors have withdrawn from the federal program, arguing they oppose what they deride as “welfare” and are unwilling to bear the administrative costs.
Under the novel $2.5 billion program created by Congress, eligible low-income households will receive a total of $120 per child during the three summer months when free or reduced-price lunch programs are not available at schools.
Washington, DC, several territories and tribal nations also participate. Families earning up to 185% of the federal poverty level, or $57,720 for a family of four, are eligible.
In many states, funds have already been distributed to families.
The money will be available on an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card. Households participating in government-administered programs can redeem their benefits at retail stores that participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps.
The conditions that have opted not to participate in the Summer EBT – Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Wyoming – may opt to do so next year.
Oklahoma does not participate in the program, but the Cherokee and Chickasaw tribes in the state do. Fourteen states with Republican governors participate in the program.
The money for the digital cards comes from the federal government, but the states have to pay half of the Costs for administering the programThese costs include the salaries and benefits of the people who run the program, office costs, and public relations costs.
Iowa officials said administering the program would cost the state $2.2 million. Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds said in a press release that government cash benefit programs do not offer long-term solutions and that the EBT card “does not contribute to nutrition support” because there are hardly any restrictions on food purchases.
The office of Republican Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves said the state withdrew from the program as a sign of its opposition to “attempts to expand the welfare state.” accordingly Mississippi today.
Texas officials told the Texas Tribune that the federal government had not given them enough time to get the program up and running.
Jason Raven, a spokesman for the South Carolina Department of Education, told Stateline that the state already has two state-funded summer programs that provide free meals to children under 18.
But one advocacy group estimates that nearly 150,000 children nationwide do not get enough to eat despite existing programs, according to the South Carolina Daily Gazette. reported.
One participating state, Tennessee, has already announced that it will exit the program in 2025. according to The Associated Press.
A spokesman for Republican Governor Bill Lee’s office said there are other food assistance programs in the state of Tennessee.
Change of heart
Three states – Louisiana, Nebraska and Vermont – originally announced they would not participate in the summer program, but then changed course.
After the administration of Louisiana’s Republican governor, Jeff Landry, and the state’s Department of Education decided do not apply for the program, the Louisiana Legislature rejected and included 3.6 million US dollars to participate in the state budget.
The administration of Vermont’s Republican governor, Phil Scott, had initially decided against it because the state could not cover the administrative costs. according to Vermont PublicBut government agencies secured Waiver of participation after stating that they had worked with the federal government to achieve greater flexibility in the administration of the program, (*13*)VTDigger reported.
When Nebraska Republican Governor Jim Pillen changed his mind about the withdrawal from the US Department of Agriculture program in FebruaryIt was the visit of school children that convinced him.
“They talked about their hunger and about the Department of Agriculture’s summer program and when they would get a bag of food depending on availability,” Pills said at a press conference“And from where I sit, we have to get better at Nebraska.”
Alabama Legislature in May approved 10 million US dollars for the state Participation in 2025.
Kelsey Boone, senior policy analyst for child nutrition at the Food Research & Action Center, which advocates for people suffering from poverty-related hunger, expects even more states to commit to Summer EBT in 2025 if the program proves successful.
“For most states, the trade-off is that the benefits of the program far outweigh the administrative costs,” Boone said.
“I think there will be a lot of resistance and a lot of people will go to their state agencies and governors’ offices and ask them to implement the program in 2025. That will have a big impact,” she said.
Food insecurity
Rough 17 million households According to the USDA, 13.5 million people were food insecure in 2022, compared to 13.8 million in 2021 and 13.5 million in 2020. The agency defines food insecurity as constrained or uncertain access to sufficient food.
In December 2022, Congress permanently authorized the Summer EBT program, with a start date this summer.
Since 2010, the USDA has implemented several versions of this program. various pilot programs. In evaluating the program over a ten-year period, the Department found that the Summer EBT program Reducing food insecurity among children by a “significant amount” and promoted a well diet.
Miriam Cobbs, a single mother of three from Missouri, praised the program as a lifeline for parents during the summer months. Survey in May A survey of more than 450 parents with children under 18, commissioned by meal kit brand HelloFresh, found that 41% of parents struggle to provide food for their families during school holidays.
“With food prices so high, every little bit helps,” Cobbs said. “This is a great idea for people whose children stay home for the summer. So many children go hungry during these summer months, especially when parents are on a tight budget.”
