Nebraska Governor Declines $18 Million in Federal Funds Intended to Feed 175,000 Hungry Kids

A surge of frustration is sweeping through Nebraska following the governor’s decision that risks leaving thousands of kids without summer nutrition programs.

$18 Million Rejected for Nebraska Kids

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Governor Jim Pillen has officially confirmed that Nebraska won’t be part of the 2024 Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children (Summer EBT), declining $18 million in federal aid intended to feed children who could face hunger during school breaks.

Nebraska’s Last Call

Right before the January 1 deadline for the program, advocates for children and low-income families made their appeal outside the Governor’s Mansion in Lincoln, but Pillen’s statement confirmed Nebraska’s decision not to participate in the Summer EBT program.

29 Million Children to Benefit from EBT

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Summer EBT, set to officially launch in the summer of 2024, is a collaborative effort aimed at improving the USDA’s summer nutrition programs. This initiative will provide low-income families with school-age children access to grocery benefits during the summer break when schools are not in session, with the promising potential to benefit more than 29 million children nationwide.

Pre-Loaded for Hungry Kids

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As part of the federal aid offered during the COVID-19 pandemic, this program will issue pre-loaded EBT cards to families with children who meet the criteria for free and reduced-price school lunches.

Each eligible child in these families will receive $40 per month throughout the summer. These EBT cards can be used for grocery shopping, much like SNAP benefits.

No COVID-19, No Aid

Now, as the pandemic fades away, the governor sees no reason for the state to continue participating in the Summer EBT program, stating, “COVID-19 is over, and Nebraska taxpayers expect that pandemic-era government relief programs will end too,”

$300K Annual Savings

Nebraska’s decision not to join the Summer EBT program would achieve substantial financial savings for the state. Due to the requirement for participating states to cover half of the administrative costs, Nebraska is set to save an estimated annual administrative cost of roughly $300,000, as reported by the Lincoln Journal Star.

175,000 Nebraska Kids Lose Aid

Proponents of the initiative point out that the $18 million benefit, as calculated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, significantly outweighs the administrative expenses, aiming to assist 175,000 Nebraska kids at risk of going hungry in the summer.

Clear Anti-Welfare Stance

Republican Governor Pillen’s decision originates from his stance on welfare, as he expressed to the Journal Star on Friday, saying, “In the end, I fundamentally believe that we solve the problem, and I don’t believe in welfare.”

Continued Support

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It’s important to note that the decision to opt out of the program doesn’t mean that children in need will lose access to summer nutrition programs. Nebraska remains committed to participating in the existing USDA Summer Food Services Program (SFSB), ensuring that hungry children have access to a diverse range of nutritious food choices and essential protective services.

Nebraska will also remain a participant in the Summer Food Service Program, a federal scheme that merges food assistance with programs like physical activity, reading, and nutrition education.

Active Participation Over Welfare

Justifying his decision, Pillen explained, “We just want to make sure that they’re out. They’re at church camps. They’re at schools. They’re at 4-H. And we’ll take care of them at all of the places that they’re at, so that they’re out amongst (other people) and not feeding a welfare system with food at home.”

Cross-Party Push for EBT

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Even with the governor’s justifications, a bipartisan group of Nebraska lawmakers have called for the state to rethink its decision to not join the Summer EBT, an initiative they believe delivers dual benefits: meeting the basic needs of hungry children and simultaneously providing economic benefits to the state.

Although the state plans to continue providing on-site services, critics point out that these are not accessible to all, especially in Nebraska’s rural regions where such sites are often far from families in need.

Clock is Ticking

As efforts intensify to persuade Nebraska to reconsider its stance on the Summer EBT, locals have submitted a petition with over 6,100 signatures from 230 communities across the state, urging participation in the federal program.

Nebraska has until January 1st to inform the Department of Agriculture of its intent to participate this summer.