Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen stands agency on rejection of federal cash to feed food-insecure kids

OMAHA, Neb. — Nebraska’s Republican governor on Friday reiterated his rejection of $18 million in federal funding to assist feed kids who may in any other case go hungry whereas college is out.

Nebraska is not going to take part within the 2024 Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children – or Summer EBT – program, Gov. Jim Pillen mentioned in a written assertion. That assertion got here as advocates for youngsters and low-income households held a information convention outdoors the Governor’s Mansion in Lincoln to name on Pillen to vary his thoughts earlier than the Jan. 1 deadline to enroll in this system.

The program – a part of federal help made accessible throughout the COVID-19 pandemic – would offer pre-loaded EBT playing cards to households whose kids are eligible without cost and reduced-price lunches at college. Those households would obtain $40 per eligible little one per thirty days over the summer time. The playing cards can be utilized to purchase groceries, much like how SNAP advantages are used.

“COVID-19 is over, and Nebraska taxpayers expect that pandemic-era government relief programs will end too,” Pillen mentioned in his assertion. Pillen introduced on Dec. 19 that Nebraska wouldn’t take part in this system. He has drawn a firestorm of criticism for later defending that stance at a information convention by saying, “I don’t believe in welfare.”

Neighboring Iowa can also be opting out of this system, with Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds saying that call final week and saying, “An EBT card does nothing to promote nutrition at a time when childhood obesity has become an epidemic.”

States that take part within the federal program are required to cowl half of the executive prices, which might value Nebraska an estimated $300,000. Advocates of this system be aware that the executive value is much outweighed by the $18 million profit, which the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates would profit 175,000 Nebraska kids who may in any other case go hungry on some days throughout the summer time.

Advocacy group Nebraska Appleseed on Friday delivered a petition bearing greater than 6,100 signatures from 230 communities throughout Nebraska calling on the state to make the most of the federal Summer EBT program. Many of those that signed the petition additionally included feedback expressing how a lot this system is required, particularly in gentle of multi-year inflation that has outpaced many family incomes.

“Everything is expensive,” wrote one mom from Bruno, a small rural city in jap Nebraska. “I’m a single mom who works full time, and my budget is already spread so thin. My son plays sports, and as a growing boy, he could practically eat a hole through the wall; it feels like it never stops. The extra money for food would free up money for things like bills and savings, and car maintenance.”

Pillen insisted Friday that the state would proceed to assist food-insecure kids by means of the Summer Food Service Program, which offers meals and snacks at varied websites when college will not be in session. Providing on-site companies additionally permits suppliers to identify and report points like malnutrition, neglect and abuse in kids, he mentioned.

But critics say not all households have entry to the on-site packages – significantly in Nebraska’s huge rural stretches, the place websites could be many miles away from a struggling household.

“No kid ever said, ‘I want to be born into a family that struggles,’” mentioned Jenni Benson, president of the Nebraska State Education Association – the state’s largest lecturers union. “Why would we even question that people and children deserve food?”

Preston Love Jr,, a longtime group advocate in Omaha, on Friday questioned whether or not Pillen was bowing to political stress in rejecting the federal funding.

“I know the governor a little bit, and he seems to be a reasonable man. He’s a man who is compassionate in conversation,” Love mentioned. “This is out of character. So, obviously, he’s not following his heart. He’s following his politics. He’s falling victim to political posturing, and there’s no excuse for that when it comes to children.”

As of Friday, 28 different states and 6 different U.S. territories and Native American tribes had confirmed their participation, in keeping with the USDA.