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encourage her to make the right choice: 515-281-5211.
Not persuaded? Read on.
During the legislative session, I spoke three times on the floor of the House of Representatives about the importance of Iowa taking advantage of this opportunity.
1. Quoting public health experts, I debunked the notion that participating in food assistance programs somehow promotes child obesity. You can find those comments here.
2. Citing the Department of Education’s own statistics, I demonstrated that the existing summer food programs for children are NOT a good substitute for Summer EBT. While the Summer Food Service program is a good one, it serves only a small fraction of the kids eligible for Summer EBT, because the children are required to travel and show up at a specific place at a specific time to eat a meal. You can find those comments here.
3. In 2023, 12 Iowa counties had NO Summer Food Service sites and 20 others had only one. On my third “point of personal privilege,” I asked several legislators who represent these counties if they were aware of this. Video is available here. Comments start at 3:14:45.
The access benefits of Summer EBT are obvious. Persuaded? Call the governor NOW to encourage her to make the right choice: 515-281-5211.
Not persuaded? Read on.
Some believe that Iowa’s resistance to the program is “political,” that a Republican governor does not want to give credit to a Democratic president or a former Democratic Iowa governor (Tom Vilsack) for a good program. Or that by taking the money Iowa would somehow be adding to the federal debt (what the governor means when she says the program is supposedly not “sustainable.”)
Whether true or not, the answer to “politics” is, well, different politics: What do the people of Iowa think?
On August 5, the Iowa Hunger Coalition delivered a petition to Gov. Reynolds that had 3,500 signers -- Iowans asking her to accept Summer EBT. The Iowa Hunger Coalition is a good source of facts, data and information on Summer EBT. Don’t take my word for it: Go here to look for yourself.
In July, I wrote twice to 70 organizations that have, or should have, an interest in feeding hungry kids, including those involved in health care, education, agriculture, social service, religion, local government and rural advocacy. I asked their leaders to contact the governor. Several have done so; a few have declined. Samples of the letters can be found here and here. The list of recipients is below. If you know one of their leaders, ask them how they responded and if they spoke up for the people they represent.
Before I sign off, if I have not done so, I want to ask: Can you call the governor TODAY to encourage her to make the right choice about Summer EBT: 515-281-5211.
Thank you for reading this far. I am sure that Iowa’s hungry school kids thank you, too.
Anderson-Erickson
Association of Community Providers
Broadlawns Medical Center
Center for Rural Affairs
Deere and Company
Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship
EveryStep
Fareway
Hy-Vee
Iowa Academy of Family Physicians
Iowa Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Iowa Area Development Group
Iowa Association of Business and Industry
Iowa Association of School Boards
Iowa Business Council
Iowa Catholic Conference
Iowa Cattlemen’s Association
Iowa Chamber Alliance
Iowa Community Action Association
Iowa Community Foundations
Iowa Corn Growers Association
Iowa Dairy Foods Association
Iowa Dental Association
Iowa Egg Council
Iowa Farm Bureau Federation
Iowa Farmers Market Association
Iowa Farmers Union
Iowa Food Bank Association
Iowa Food System Coalition
Iowa Gaming Association
Iowa Grocery Industry Association
Iowa Healthiest State Initiative
Iowa Honey Producers Association
Iowa Hospital Association
Iowa Hunger Coalition
Iowa League of Cities
Iowa Medical Society
Iowa Nurses Association
Iowa Osteopathic Medical Association
Iowa Pharmacy Association
Iowa Physician Assistant Society
Iowa Pork Producers
Iowa Primary Care Association
Iowa Public Health Association
Iowa Rural Development Council
Iowa School Nurse Organization
Iowa School Social Workers Association
Iowa Soybean Association
Iowa Specialty Crop Growers Association
Iowa State Association of Counties
Iowa State Dairy Association
Iowa Total Care
Iowa Turkey Federation
Lutheran Services in Iowa
MercyOne
Molina Healthcare of Iowa
North Central Poultry Association
Professional Developers of Iowa
Rural School Advocates of Iowa
School Administrators of Iowa
School Nutrition Association of Iowa
The Family Leader
United Ways of Iowa
UnityPoint Health
University of Iowa Health Care
University of Iowa Physicians
Wellmark
Wellpoint Iowa
Wells Enterprises
World Food Prize Foundation
PS -- The Iowa Department of Education and Department of Health and Human Services have said Summer EBT/SunBucks is to compliicated and costly to implement. Well, guess what? We have an app for that! The U.S. Department of Agriculture has a grant program Iowa can apply for to pay these costs.
"The one-time grants will support development and modifications to state technology systems that are needed to effectively run the program with proper controls and integrity. The funds are available to all agencies implementing SUN Bucks this year, as well as those planning to launch the program next summer." Thank you, Secretary/Governor Vilsack.
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