DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray Media Iowa Capitol Bureau) – The USDA says Iowa can not create its own program to feed kids over the summer and receive federal funding.
The federal Summer EBT program, also known as SUN Bucks, gives eligible families a debit card loaded with $40 per month per child to buy food during the summer, when students lose access to free and reduced lunch.
Gov. Kim Reynolds asked the USDA to allow the state to use the funding and instead provide families with three boxes of food per month rather than let families choose the meals themselves.
The letter from the USDA to the state has a few reasons they say Iowa’s proposal won’t work:
The agency says that Summer EBT has been proven over a decade that it reduces hunger, and it says the state didn’t offer evidence Iowa’s proposal would be better. Summer EBT cards are mailed to families, but Reynolds’ proposal would require families to go to feeding sites to pick the boxes up. The state’s proposal would provide food box deliveries to some families. The USDA says that programs that administer food at feeding sites typically have low levels of participation. The agency says the existing program already provides options for providing food at feeding sites. Reynolds’s proposal would be classified as a demonstration project. The USDA letter says Congress stopped funding demonstration projects.
In a statement, Governor Reynolds says the state will resubmit its proposal once the Trump Administration takes over next year. But Luke Elzinga with the Iowa Hunger Coalition says he doesn’t think the Trump Administration would approve this proposal either.
“This is not just a simple waiver request. The state’s asking to waive 29 separate pieces of federal code. They’re essentially saying we would like this money. We don’t want to participate in this program,” he said.
Now that the state’s proposal has been denied, Elzinga says that his group’s pushing Reynolds to participate in the federal program now.
“Iowa has until January 1st to submit that notice of intent to participate in the program. So, we are calling on Governor Reynolds to participate in Summer EBT not to submit a waiver request,” he said.
Reynolds’ statement says her proposal would feed 60,000 more kids than the Summer EBT program, and let the state buy healthier foods at a lower cost since it can purchase in bulk.
“As I’ve said from the start, our summer feeding demonstration project would feed nearly 60,000 more Iowa children than the USDA’s SUN Bucks program with healthier, more nutritious food at a lower cost through bulk buying. Our plan also addresses transportation challenges by offering food box deliveries for eligible recipients—an option not available through the summer EBT program. We look forward to presenting our plan to the new administration.”
Elzinga says the state would have to do significant work to make sure families who qualify are aware they can receive this assistance. He says solutions like feeding sites and food boxes are a solution, but wishes the state would stick with the Summer EBT cards.
Read the USDA letter
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Conner Hendricks covers state government and politics for Gray Media-owned stations in Iowa. Email him at conner.hendricks@gray.tv; and follow him on Facebook at Conner Hendricks TV or on X/Twitter @ConnerReports.
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