Iowa Democrats push to reverse state rejection of federal summer food assistance

DES MOINES — Iowa Statehouse Democrats will push to reverse a decision from state officials to opt out of a federal food assistance program for low-income children, party leaders said during a forum Thursday.

House and Senate Democratic leaders made the remarks during the Iowa Capitol Press Association’s annual Legislative Session Preview Forum. Republican leaders and Republican Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds declined to attend the forum.

The state Department of Health and Human Services announced in December that it would not participate in the 2024 Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children program. The program would have given $40 per child for each of the summer months to families who qualify for free and reduced lunch during the school year.

Instead, Reynolds said the state would expand existing programs that “leverage partnerships with community-based providers and schools who understand the needs of the families they serve.”

In an email Thursday, Reynolds' spokesperson Kollin Crompton said the state is exploring using federal funds from the American Rescue Plan — which Reynolds opposed — to incentivize school districts and other sites to participate in other federally-funded summer feeding programs, while asking other districts to expand their programs. The state also will explore ways to connect Medicaid-eligible Iowans with food assistance. He said existing state programs offer more nutritious alternatives to EBT cards, which do not have a nutritional requirement.

"The Summer Food Service Program and the Seamless Summer Option, already run through the state, are required to provide Milk, fruits, vegetables, grains, and meats / proteins — all based around age-appropriate meal patterns,' Crompton wrote. "These nutritional standards provide well balanced, prepared meals for children in a healthy, safe environment.”

The HHS department noted the state would have been required to spend $2.2 million in administrative fees to cover its share of the program.

Iowa is among 17 states — nearly all led by Republican governors — that won’t participate in the federal government’s summer food aid program for children.

On Thursday, Senate Democratic Leader Pam Jochum of Dubuque said she had reached out to Republican colleagues, who make up the majority in both chambers, asking them to join Democrats in reversing the decision to reject the aid.

“Some of the arguments the governor has made in terms of why she has rejected that funding just don't wash,” Jochum said. “They just don’t wash. It has nothing to do with obesity, even though she may claim that.”

Democratic Sen. Izaah Knox issued a statement last week calling for collaboration “among all stakeholders” to address food insecurity in the wake of the state’s decision to opt out of the federal program.

Republican Sen. Mike Costello, the vice chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, said it’s unlikely Republicans will pursue legislation to increase funding for food assistance for low-income families.

He said he supports state officials’ decision to pass on the federal program and focus attention on existing state programs.

“The department has … a lot of different programs for feeding children,” Costello said. “And they feel like they can work with the latitude they already have to meet those needs.”

Rep. Jennifer Konfrst of Windsor Heights, who leads House Democrats, said she is skeptical there will be any support from Republicans to reverse the decision or expand funding for low-income families to make up for the federal dollars.

“I don’t know that there are bipartisan opportunities, but Democrats are ready to work on those,” Konfrst said. “I just don’t believe Republicans are willing to stand up to the governor on this really disastrous and offensive decision.”