IOWA, USA — The state of Iowa will not participate in a national program that could make it easier for low-income families with children to afford food over the summer, according to a press release from the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services.
The Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children (Summer EBT) program began during the COVID-19 pandemic, but was authorized to continue earlier this year.
Under the Summer EBT program, qualifying families would receive a stipend of $40 per child per month during the summer to purchase food. Families would receive the funds via an EBT card in the child's name.
However, the state of Iowa has already informed the U.S. Department of Agriculture that Iowa will not participate in the program in 2024, citing a lack of "a strong nutrition focus".
“No child should go hungry, least of all in Iowa, but the Summer EBT Program fails to address the barriers that exist to healthy and nutritional foods," said Iowa HHS Director Kelly Garcia in a press release. "Iowa’s kids need consistent access to nutritionally dense food, and their families need to feel supported to make healthy choices around food and nutrition. Another benefit card addressed to children is not the way to take on this issue."
Instead of participating in the 2024 Summer EBT program, the state plans to enhance existing childhood nutrition programs within the state.
“Federal COVID-era cash benefit programs are not sustainable and don’t provide long-term solutions for the issues impacting children and families," said Gov. Kim Reynolds in a press release. "An EBT card does nothing to promote nutrition at a time when childhood obesity has become an epidemic."
Iowa HHS noted that the state served more than 1.6 million meals and snacks to kids last summer through the Summer Food Service Program and Seamless Summer Option program, both of which are funded through the USDA and administered by the Iowa Department of Education.
“The Iowa Department of Education remains committed to supporting students with healthy meals and food options," said McKenzie Snow, director of the Iowa Department of Education. "We are already leveraging family-focused, community-based solutions to support child nutrition and well-being in the summer, and we look forward to expanding these existing partnerships."
The decision comes as local food banks, such as DMARC, are already seeing record need.
“We are in a food insecurity crisis, with record numbers of Iowans seeking help from food pantries," said Sen. Sarah Trone Garriot, D-West Des Moines, in a statement to Local 5. "It is shocking that in a time of great need our Governor would refuse millions of federal dollars that would go directly to feed hundreds of thousands of Iowa Children."
Sen. Izaah Knox, D-Des Moines, also weighed in, calling the decision "extremely disappointing".
“This cruel and short-sighted decision will have real impacts on children and families in my district and communities all across Iowa," Knox said in part.