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IHC Statement on USDA Cancelling Local Food Purchasing Programs

The Iowa Hunger Coalition strongly objects to the decision by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to cancel the Local Food Purchasing Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA) and Local Foods for Schools and Child Care Cooperative Agreement Program (LFSCC) for 2025 and beyond. These programs would have provided $11.3 million in local food purchasing support for food banks and emergency feeding programs ($3 million), schools ($6.1 million), and early child care programs ($2.2 million) over the next three years.

LFPA and LFS have been incredibly successful in Iowa, not only in providing fresh, nutritious food to Iowa’s schools and anti-hunger organizations, but also in building markets for Iowa’s local food farmers. Our friends at the Iowa Farmers Union, Iowa Food System Coalition, Iowa Food Bank Association, Iowa Valley RC&D, Iowa Farm to School and Early Care Network, Iowa Food Hub Managers Working Group, Meskwaki Nation, and many other coalition partners and individual food farmers have shown tireless dedication to feeding Iowans and improving our local food systems through LFPA and LFS—building on decades of local food systems work. Many food farmers have already made substantial investments and scaled up production in anticipation of these programs. Their work should be commended, not condemned.

Iowa’s food banks, food pantries, and other anti-hunger organizations continue to assist record-breaking numbers of our neighbors experiencing food insecurity. At the same time, federal and state support for nutrition programs are increasingly under threat. Nonprofits are being asked to do more with less. Without the support of LFPA and LFSCC, food banks, emergency feeding organizations, and schools are left with fewer resources to feed children, seniors, and Iowans of all ages.

We appreciate the support for local food purchasing programs from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS), and believe the state has an opportunity to respond to this moment by stepping up investment in the Choose Iowa Food Purchasing Pilot Program. We are calling on the Iowa state legislature to direct $3 million in funding to support this program in state fiscal year 2025-2026. Please contact your state Senator and Representative today and urge them to increase state funding for the Choose Iowa Food Purchasing Pilot Program.

Furthermore, we are encouraging all IHC members and supporters to make conscious and intentional efforts to support local food farmers with your purchases. Visit a farmers market. Sign up for a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. Buy directly from a local farmer, food hub, or meat locker. We’re all in this together, and we can all make a difference.

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U.S. House Budget Resolution Would Increase Food Insecurity for Tens of Thousands of Iowans

Two weeks ago, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a budget resolution directing top-level spending cuts and teeing up negotiations with the Senate. All four of Iowa’s Representatives voted in favor of the resolution.

Related Reading: 40+ groups tell Iowa’s Congressional delegation: Don’t cut Medicaid and SNAP

The budget resolution directs at least $880 billion in cuts to Medicaid, at least $230 billion in cuts to SNAP, and $12 billion in cuts to school nutrition programs. These cuts would be devastating to hundreds of thousands of Iowans who rely on these critical programs, and would further exacerbate food insecurity in the state.

While we still don’t know what specific cuts will be made, we do have some indications based on earlier proposals that have been discussed. So what exactly would be the impact in Iowa from these possible policy changes? Keep reading to find out.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

The budget resolution calls for $230 billion in cuts to SNAP over ten years, or 20% of all program funding. There is not a way to make such substantial cuts without slashing benefits, changing eligibility, or requiring states to cost-share on benefits. Any one of these options would do immeasurable harm to SNAP and the Iowans assisted by the program.

Undoing the Thrifty Food Plan Modernization of 2021

Undoing the modernization of the Thrifty Food Plan that occurred in 2021 would decrease SNAP benefits by an estimated 27% in the state of Iowa. This would slash the average monthly SNAP benefit for households by $71, from $351 to $280. This would cut the average individual daily benefit by $1.17, from $5.72 to $4.55. It would lead to almost $10 million less in benefits going out to Iowans every single month, for a monthly loss of almost $15 million in economic activity.

Expanding the 3-Month Time Limit (Work Reporting Requirements)

Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs) ages 18-54 currently are required to work at least 20 hours per week or face a time limit of being enrolled in SNAP for only three months every three years. There are a variety of proposals that have been floated, including expanding these time limit to adults ages 55-56, expanding the time limit to adults up to age 65, and expanding the time limit to caretakers of children ages 6 and up. There have also been proposals to eliminate the exemption for veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and young adults aging out of foster care.

Without knowing the exact proposal, it’s difficult to estimate how many additional Iowans would be subject to the time limit/work reporting requirements. But we do know that these work reporting requirements don’t meaningfully improve employment - they just reinforce false narratives and kick people off the program who struggle to meet the requirements, including people who are working.

Ending Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility

Ending broad-based categorical eligibility (BBCE) would kick 24,300 Iowans off SNAP, over half of whom are children (11,300) and seniors (2,500), by reducing income eligibility for SNAP in Iowa from 160% of the federal poverty level (FPL) to 130% FPL. It would also impose a strict asset test for SNAP, which would deter additional Iowans from being able to access SNAP.

Requiring States to Cost-Share on SNAP Benefits

Another possible proposal would require states to cost-share on SNAP benefits with the federal government. Currently, the federal government pays for 100% of SNAP benefits, with states having a 50/50 cost-share on the administrative costs.

In federal fiscal year 2024, SNAP benefits to Iowans totaled $528.9 million. If the state of Iowa were required to cover even 10% of this, it would cost the state $52.9 million - more than twice what we currently pay to administer the program.

This would no doubt be a cause for concern, given our Governor's reluctance to provide funding for nutrition programs, and impending budget shortfalls. It would leave Iowa in a tight spot, and could lead decision-makers to roll back eligibility for SNAP or create additional administrative hurdles to further drive down program participation in order to save money.

Child Nutrition Programs

Making Changes to the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)

The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) allows schools to serve free breakfast and lunch to all students if they have a high enough percentage of their student population who qualifies for free or reduced price meals. Research has shown this type of policy can greatly reduce childhood food insecurity, especially for children from households with incomes between 185-250% who would otherwise not qualify for free or reduced price meals, but still struggle to make ends meet.

Changing the qualifier for schools and school districts to be eligible for the Community Eligibility Provision from 25% of the identified student percentage (ISP) receiving free or reduced price school meals to 60% ISP would eliminate access to free school meals to nearly 28,000 children in Iowa, including 12,000 elementary students, 7,000 middle school students, and 9,000 high school students.

Loss of Direct Certification for Free School Meals and Adjunctive Eligibility for WIC

If Iowans lose access to SNAP or Medicaid, that can also jeopardize their ability to remain eligible for free school meals and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). This could create a ripple effect for families, losing access to multiple benefits at a time and further increasing food insecurity.

Contact Your Members of Congress Today!

It's important that Iowa's Senators and U.S. Representatives hear from their constituents about these concerning proposals. Please contact Iowa's federal delegation and tell them to protect SNAP, school meals, and Medicaid from harmful cuts!

We encourage you to use data and talking points from above, but most importantly, make it personal! Explain why you object to these cuts as an Iowan and a voter.

Thank you for your ongoing advocacy!

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Legislative Update: Where Things Stand After First Funnel

The Iowa legislature has reached its first self-imposed deadline, known as the “first funnel,” wherein most legislation has to have passed out of Committee in their chamber of origin, in order to continue through the legislative process. It’s a way of winnowing down the number of bills that are still under consideration. Ways & Means (taxing) and Appropriations (spending) bills are exempt from this deadline, and are considered “funnel-proof.”

So, what’s still alive, and what’s effectively dead for the 2025 session? Read along to get updates on bills we’re monitoring and actions you can take for each.

Double Up Food Bucks

  • SF 232 (formerly SSB 1012) would direct $1 million to the Iowa Healthiest State Initiative for the Double Up Food Bucks program, which incentives the purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables for SNAP participants. The bill passed subcommittee and the Senate Health & Human Services Committee with bipartisan unanimous votes. It has now been referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee and assigned a new subcommittee. This bill is now considered “funnel-proof.”

  • HF 796 (formerly HSB 216) directs $1 million to the Double Up Food Bucks program, but make that appropriation contingent on the USDA granting Iowa a waiver to restrict food items eligible for purchase with SNAP benefits. The amended language only seems to make the guidelines of what foods would be banned more confusing:

This vague definition appears to give the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services sole discretion to decide what is and what is not considered “healthy food based on necessary nutrition for good health.” Iowans should be trusted to make the best food choices for their families.

This bill has been referred to the House Appropriations Committee, but has not yet been assigned a subcommittee.

  • ACTION ITEM: Contact your Representative and ask them to oppose HF 796, and instead support a clean $1 million appropriation for Double Up Food Bucks.

SNAP Work Reporting Requirements

  • HSB 248 directs the state to impose work reporting requirements for people enrolled in the Iowa Health & Wellness Plan (Medicaid expansion population). People would have to report at least 20 hours per week of work, training, or volunteering in order to maintain their Medicaid coverage.

    Division II of the bill also directs the state to coordinate with USDA and HHS at the federal level to “align the requirements and rules for participants of public assistance programs related to working, including but not limited to rules and requirements related to employment and training for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.”

    What exactly would this do? It’s a bit unclear. One interpretation is that this would expand work reporting requirements for SNAP based on the proposed requirements for Medicaid in Division I of the bill. SNAP work reporting requirements already exist for Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs) ages 18-54. This could potentially expand the 20 hour per week requirement to:

    • Older adults ages 55-64
    • Caretakers of children ages 6 and up
    • Veterans
    • People experiencing homelessness
    • Young adults aging out of foster care

It’s also possible that this bill could make participation in the SNAP Employment & Training program mandatory as a condition of receiving SNAP, rather than a voluntary opportunity for SNAP participants in Iowa – and could potentially make participation in an employment and training program also mandatory for Medicaid and TANF. Either way, these policies have not been shown to move people to employment, but simply remove people from public assistance programs who cannot comply with the onerous reporting requirements or struggle to find employment.

This bill passed subcommittee on a 2-1 vote and passed the House Health & Human Services Committee with a vote of 12-8-1. It will be renumbered and will be eligible for floor debate in the House.

  • SF 363 started off as a Medicaid work reporting requirements bill, but in subcommittee there was a “strike and replace” amendment to align the language with HSB 248.

    This bill passed out of subcommittee and the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on party-line votes. The bill will now be renumbered and eligible for floor debate in the Senate.

Updates on Other Legislation

  • The grocer reinvestment program and local produce processing grant program (HF 550) has passed out of subcommittee and committee with unanimous bipartisan votes. It is now in the House Appropriations Committee and is considered “funnel-proof.”

  • Legislation that would direct the state to waive federal nutrition requirements for school meals, and instead establish Iowa’s own nutrition requirements for school meals with a preference for pork, corn, and dairy (SSB 1158 / HSB 173) have advanced out of Committee in both chambers. These bills will now be renumbered (SF 525 / House bill number forthcoming) and are eligible for floor debate in both the House and Senate.

    • Rep. Sami Scheetz introduced an amendment to HSB 173 in Committee that would have delayed implementation until Iowa provided Healthy School Meals for All. Unfortunately, the amendment was voted down on party lines.

  • A bill that would create additional liability protections for food donations from trucking companies to the Iowa Food Bank Association (SF 359) has advanced out of subcommittee and the Senate State Government Committee. Iowa and the federal government already have liability protections for food donated in good faith, so it’s unclear what this bill would change from current law.

  • Efforts to criminalize homelessness in Iowa (SSB 1195 / HSB 286) have successfully been stopped, and these bills are dead for the session. Something to celebrate!

Questions about any of this? Feel free to contact us at iowahungercoalition@gmail.com. Thank you for your ongoing advocacy!