This summer, Iowa has decided not to join a federal initiative that allocates $40 monthly to each child from financially disadvantaged families to assist with food expenses during the school break. This decision was confirmed by the state’s officials.
The announcement, made by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Education on a recent Friday, indicates that Iowa will not be partaking in the 2024 Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children, also known as Summer EBT, a program overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Governor Kim Reynolds of Iowa, a member of the Republican Party, expressed in the announcement that federal financial aid programs from the COVID era are not viable long-term solutions for the challenges facing children and families. She emphasized that EBT cards do not encourage healthy eating habits, especially critical at a time when childhood obesity rates are alarmingly high.
Governor Reynolds further stated, “To genuinely address family well-being, the Biden Administration and Congress should focus on enhancing existing state-level programs and infrastructures, providing states the leeway to adapt these programs to meet their specific needs.”
Participating in this federal program requires states to fund half of the administrative expenses. For Iowa, this would mean an estimated cost of $2.2 million, as mentioned in the news release.
The decision has sparked opposition from some state legislators, including Democratic Senator Izaah Knox from Des Moines. Senator Knox criticized the move as a severe disappointment, highlighting the potential negative consequences on children and families in Iowa, particularly those in need of food assistance.
Currently, 18 states and territories, along with two tribal nations – the Cherokee Nation and Chickasaw Nation – have expressed their intent to participate in the Summer EBT program for 2024. This list includes states and territories such as Arizona, California, Kansas, Minnesota, West Virginia, American Samoa, and Guam. Other states, territories, and eligible tribal nations have until January 1 to inform the Department of Agriculture about their participation plans for this summer’s program.
