As many as 10 million children are at risk of going hungry next summer unless 12 Republican-led states choose to participate in the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Program, also known as SUN Bucks. This program, which helps alleviate food insecurity for children during the summer months, faces a critical deadline of January 1 for states to opt in, with $1.14 billion in federal funding at stake.
The Summer EBT Program: A Lifeline for Families
The Summer EBT Program provides eligible families with a $120 benefit per child, which can be used to purchase food during the summer months when school meal programs are not available. According to the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC), this program is an essential resource for families struggling with food insecurity, particularly when children are out of school and meals are harder to come by.
“Summer can be the hungriest time for children,” said Crystal FitzSimons, interim president of FRAC. “This funding is an opportunity for states to ensure children have access to the nutrition they need to grow, thrive, and return to school ready to learn.”
Currently, 12 states — Idaho, Alaska, Wyoming, South Dakota, Iowa, Oklahoma, Texas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida — are set to forgo the funding, despite its potential to support hundreds of thousands of children in need. FRAC has strongly urged these states to reconsider, citing the program’s proven success and widespread bipartisan support.
The Need for Summer EBT
The Summer EBT Program is part of a broader network of Summer Nutrition Programs overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Last summer, the program provided vital assistance to 21 million children in 37 states, Washington D.C., U.S. territories, and Native American tribes. By offering a direct food benefit to families, SUN Bucks helps bridge the gap for families whose children rely on school meal programs during the academic year.
Tennessee, for instance, has seen a large number of children benefit from the program in the past. The state’s decision to opt out for the upcoming summer would mean that hundreds of thousands of children, many of whom live in rural or hard-to-reach areas, would lose access to this vital support. Advocates argue that Tennessee’s geographic challenges make the need for the program even more pressing, particularly in areas hit hard by natural disasters like Hurricane Helen earlier this year.
Bipartisan Support and the Impact of Opting Out
Despite the urgency of the situation, some state leaders, including Tennessee’s governor, have indicated they will not participate in the program. In Tennessee, for example, FRAC estimates that the state could receive as much as $77.2 million in federal benefits to support struggling families. However, political considerations have led some GOP-led states to hesitate, with concerns over state-level control and budget allocations potentially influencing decisions.
Public polling, including a survey by Data for Progress, reveals that the Summer EBT Program enjoys broad support from voters across the political spectrum. Once voters understand the purpose of the program, it consistently receives backing from both Democratic and Republican constituencies. This underscores the disconnect between public opinion and the actions of certain state governments, raising questions about why these programs are being turned down when they have the potential to alleviate child hunger at no cost to the states themselves.
Looking Forward: A Call to Action
With the January 1 deadline fast approaching, FRAC and other advocacy groups are intensifying their efforts to persuade state leaders to accept the federal funding. The stakes are high, and the consequences of inaction could be dire for millions of children who rely on this vital support to meet their nutritional needs during the summer months.
“The opportunity to support families and ensure that children don’t go hungry should not be overlooked,” said FitzSimons. “No child should face hunger when solutions like Summer EBT exist.”
In the coming weeks, all eyes will be on the 12 states that have yet to make their decision. If they choose to reject the program, they will be turning away critical support that could make a significant difference in the lives of millions of children and their families. The federal funding is available, but it is up to state leaders to take the necessary steps to ensure that no child goes hungry this summer.
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Reference: Eloise Goldsmith 10 Million Kids at Risk of Hunger Unless GOP-Led States Embrace Summer EBT Program | Common Dreams
