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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa won’t take part this summer time in a federal program that provides $40 per thirty days to every youngster in a low-income household to assist with meals prices whereas college is out, state officers have introduced.
The state has notified the U.S. Division of Agriculture that it’s going to not take part within the 2024 Summer season Digital Advantages Switch for Kids — or Summer season EBT — program, the state’s Division of Well being and Human Companies and Division of Schooling mentioned in a Friday information launch.
“Federal COVID-era money profit applications should not sustainable and don’t present long-term options for the problems impacting kids and households. An EBT card does nothing to advertise vitamin at a time when childhood weight problems has develop into an epidemic,” Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds mentioned within the information launch.
She added, “If the Biden Administration and Congress need to make an actual dedication to household well-being, they need to spend money on already current applications and infrastructure on the state stage and provides us the pliability to tailor them to our state’s wants.”
States that take part within the federal program are required to cowl half of the executive prices, which might price an estimated $2.2 million in Iowa, the information launch says.
Some state lawmakers, together with Democratic Sen. Izaah Knox of Des Moines, rapidly voiced their opposition to the choice.
“It’s extraordinarily disappointing that the Reynolds administration is planning to reject federal cash that might put meals on the desk for hungry Iowa children,” Knox mentioned in an announcement. “This merciless and short-sighted determination may have actual impacts on kids and households in my district and communities all throughout Iowa.”
A minimum of 18 states and territories and two tribal nations — Cherokee Nation and Chickasaw Nation — have introduced they intend to take part in this system in summer time 2024, in response to the Nationwide Convention of State Legislatures. The checklist contains Arizona, California, Kansas, Minnesota, West Virginia, American Samoa and Guam, amongst others.
Different states, territories and eligible tribal nations have till Jan. 1 to inform the Division of Agriculture of their intent to take part in this system this summer time.
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