Capitol Notebook: Senate Democrats call out Gov. Reynolds for passing on federal funding

Iowa Senate Democrats on Thursday called out Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds’ administration for passing up federal funding opportunities to improve maternal health care, expand early childhood education, and help families participate in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s summer food program.

Reynolds rejected $29 million in federal funding to provide summer food assistance for low-income families that would have cost the state $2.2 million annually to administer.

Reynolds opted against including Iowa in the federal government’s Summer EBT program, which provides an extra $40 per month directly to low-income families to spend on groceries. The program is designed to ensure children who receive free or reduced-price lunches during the school year also have access to food during the summer.

Reynolds instead used $900,000 in federal pandemic assistance funding to create new sites for Iowa’s current summer meal program. She said the state served more than 1.3 million healthy meals and snacks to Iowa children in May and June.

For 2025, Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services have proposed a much larger program: the state would use federal funding to offer healthy foods at distribution sites across the state in June, July and August next year. The proposed program would expand eligibility from 185 percent of the federal poverty level to 200 percent, making roughly 300,000 Iowans eligible.

According to documents submitted by the state to the USDA, the proposal would cost $3.86 million to administer in the first year. Half that, $1.93 million, would be paid by the state.

Reynolds had defended her proposal, saying it builds on existing state infrastructure by partnering with food banks, food pantries, schools and other entities that are involved with summer food assistance programs. And Reynolds said her proposal enables the state to purchase food in bulk and thus at a lower cost, which she argued will present to low-income families a superior option to buying groceries amid high inflation.

“Instead of creating a new program, creating new people … we’re using an existing program, we’re using an existing network, we’re providing more food, we’re serving more kids, and we’re providing better nutrition,” Reynolds told reporters back in August.

The proposal eliminating direct support for families was criticized by the USDA.

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State Sen. Janet Petersen, D-Des Moines, also criticized Reynolds’ administration for missing deadlines to apply for $17 million for a federal grant for state Medicaid agencies to increase workforce availability, increase provider care quality, and help ensure wraparound services are available for pregnancy/postpartum care needs. Another missed funding deadline would provide $21 million to strengthen existing early childhood education programs and increase access to early childhood care and education from birth through kindergarten.

Reynolds’ office did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment Thursday.

Naig re-establishes farm deer advisory council

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Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced Thursday the re-establishment of an advisory council eliminated by lawmakers earlier this year.

Naig announced the established of the Farm Deer Advisory Council within the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.

A similar council previously existed in Iowa Code but was eliminated by lawmakers during this year’s legislative session following recommendations made by a review committee.

In May, Gov. Reynolds signed legislation cutting or consolidating 111 state boards and commissions. In calling for the changes, Reynolds said the realignment would make state government more efficient and allow more decisions to be made by elected officials rather than appointed boards. Republican lawmakers echoed those arguments during the legislative session earlier this year.

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Naig said he chose to establish the seven-member advisory council of Iowa farmers within the department to allow stakeholder feedback and input.

“Iowa is home to many diverse farms raising deer, elk, and other Cervidae,” Naig said in a statement. “Stakeholder feedback through the Farm Deer Advisory Council will help to inform our decision-making, ensure that our policies and programs reflect these farmers’ priorities, and help support their markets.”

Department employees, led by the state veterinarian, will provide updates on the state’s voluntary Cervid Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Identification (CCWDSI) Program. Chronic Wasting Disease is a progressive neurological disease affecting deer, elk, and other Cervidae. As of September, nearly 2,200 Cervidae from 62 herds were enrolled in Iowa’s program.

The advisory council will meet once a year with additional meetings as needed. It will be made up of seven members, four of which will be whitetail deer farmers. Each council member will serve a three-year term and can be eligible for re-appointment.

Iowans asked to comment on DOJ grant application

The Iowa Department of Public Safety's Office of Drug Control Policy is gathering public comment on the state’s application to the U.S. Department of Justice for an estimated $1.8 million justice assistance grant.

The state office intends to use the grant funding to support drug and crime reduction priorities authorized by federal guidelines and outlined in Iowa’s Drug Control Strategy.

Iowa’s application to the U.S. Department of Justice is posted for public viewing on ODCP’s website. Comments on the application may be sent to: Office of Drug Control Policy, Pape State Office Building, 215 E. 7th Street, 5th Floor, Des Moines, Iowa 50319.

Comments may also be emailed wiggins@dps.state.ia.us. Public comments will be accepted through Nov. 8.

Eligible Iowa organizations interested in submitting an application for a future JAG grant can find instructions at the ODCP website or by calling 515.805.4141.

Gazette-Lee Des Moines Bureau