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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!

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Legislative Update: SNAP Under Attack

This week, the Iowa legislature advanced bills that would severely restrict the food items people could purchase with SNAP benefits and expand strict work reporting requirements for program participants. These bills passed out of subcommittee meetings on party-line votes. We expect they will vote on these bills in full Committee next week to attempt to advance them before the first legislative funnel deadline on Friday, March 7.

Now is a critical time to reach out to lawmakers with your concerns about these harmful bills. You can find more information and action items below.

HSB 216: SNAP Food Restrictions

House Study Bill 216 was introduced last Thursday, February 20, by House Health and Human Services Committee Chair Rep. Carter Nordman. Check out IHC’s blog post for more information about this harmful bill.

A subcommittee meeting for HSB 216 was held on Wednesday, February 26. No one present spoke in favor of the bill as it is currently written, but many speakers expressed their support for the Double Up Food Bucks program and urged lawmakers not to make those funds contingent upon a waiver to restrict food purchases. Ultimately, the bill passed out of subcommittee on a 2-1 party-line vote.

In the News:

We have heard there will be changes made to this bill, but we do not yet know exactly what those proposed changes are. Please reach out to all members of the House Health and Human Services Committee, who will likely be voting on HSB 216 (and the work reporting requirements legislation below) next week.

HSB 216 Talking Points

Medicaid and SNAP Work Reporting Requirements

House Study Bill 248 and Senate File 363 both advanced out of subcommittee meetings on Thursday, February 27, on 2-1 party line votes.

These bills moved extremely quickly, with HSB 248 introduced late on Tuesday the 25th, and the subcommittee announced with less than 24 hours in advance. We also learned about 12 hours prior to the subcommittee meeting for SF 363 that they would be doing a “strike and replace” amendment to insert the language from HSB 248 into SF 363. Needless to say, this is not a good process for making public policy. But it’s a great way to limit debate and objections from the public.

These bills would create strict work reporting requirements for 180,000 Iowans who receive health insurance through the Iowa Health and Wellness Plan (also known as the Medicaid expansion population). It also seeks to align work reporting requirements across all public benefit programs, including SNAP.

As a reminder, work reporting requirements already exist for Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs) who are participating in SNAP. These ABAWDs (ages 18-54) are already required to work at least 20 hours per week, or are limited to receiving SNAP for only three months every three years (known as the ABAWD time limit).

This bill would seek to expand these strict work reporting requirements to the following SNAP participants:

  • adults ages 55-64
  • caretakers of children ages 6 and up
  • veterans
  • people experiencing homelessness
  • young adults aging out of foster care

Research has shown that these types of work reporting requirements for Medicaid and SNAP do not actually improve employment, they just remove people from benefit programs, leaving them in a worse-off spot than they were before. Most Iowans on public assistance programs who can work already do, and others face significant barriers to holding steady employment.

These efforts would also increase administrative costs to the state, wasting taxpayer money in an effort to punish our most vulnerable Iowans.

In the News:

Please reach out to members of the House Health and Human Services Committee (HSB 248) and members of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee (SF 363) and ask them to reject these harmful proposals!

Thank you for your ongoing advocacy!

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HSB 216: The Food Police Strike Again

On Thursday, February 19, state representative Carter Nordman, Chair of the House Health & Human Services Committee, introduced House Study Bill 216. This bill would direct the state to request a waiver from USDA to enact sweeping food restrictions for Iowans participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

While HSB 216 does include $1 million in funding for the Double Up Food Bucks program, which would help make fresh fruits and vegetables more affordable for SNAP participants, the appropriation is being held hostage by Section 3 of the bill, which states that the Double Up Food Bucks funding is contingent on the state being granted a massive food restriction waiver for SNAP.

Double Up Food Bucks is currently available at less than 1% of SNAP retailers statewide. We should not be pushing food restrictions for Iowans on SNAP, especially when nutrition incentive programs are so limited in their availability.

This is a harmful, unnecessary bill that would increase stigma for the 260,000 Iowans who rely on SNAP to put food on the table.

IHC’s Policy Brief on HSB 216

SNAP is highly effective at reducing food insecurity, and there is no evidence food restrictions would improve nutrition for program participants. A randomized trial found that restricting soda and candy failed to improve SNAP participant nutrition.  Some research even suggests the negative psychological stigma associated with SNAP participation can counteract any positive nutritional and health benefits that would otherwise be gained from the program. 

The number one reason SNAP participants struggle to improve their diets is the high cost of healthy food. Over 60% of SNAP participants report the affordability of healthy foods as a barrier to achieving a healthy diet throughout the month. A recent report from Iowa HHS found that SNAP participants want more fruits and vegetables, but struggle to afford them. This bill ignores the root causes of food insecurity—low wages and lack of access to affordable nutritious food, child care, housing, health care, transportation, and other basic household essentials.

Low-income Iowans should be trusted to make the best food choices for their families. This bill has little regard for religious and medical dietary requirements, food allergies, and cultural preferences. The state should not be policing Iowans’ grocery carts.

SNAP participants have similar consumption patterns as non-SNAP participants. A 2016 USDA study found that household food expenditures were not significantly different when comparing SNAP households and non-SNAP households. SNAP households spent slightly more on soft drinks than non-SNAP households (5 versus 4 percent), and both groups were equally likely to purchase salty snacks, cookies, and other sweets.

This policy would increase administrative costs for the state and retailers alike, who would need to go through their entire inventory to classify banned foods and update their point-of-sale systems to restrict the redemption of those products.

What Could SNAP Benefits Be Used to Purchase?

SNAP benefits could only be used to purchase foods on Iowa’s WIC-approved food list, as well as “real meat,” “real dairy,” “real eggs,” bread, grains, fruits, vegetables, cereal, peanut butter, nuts, pasta, rice, and legumes. These food items could be fresh, frozen, canned, preserved, made intro spreads, or juiced.

So, what food items would be banned from SNAP? Everything else, including:

  • Bottled water, seltzer, coffee, tea, and any other beverage that is not milk or specific varieties of juice and soy milk included on the WIC-approved food list

  • Spices, seasonings, condiments, pasta sauce, and salad dressings

  • Olive oil, vegetable oil, and other cooking oils, including animal-based oils

  • Granola bars, protein bars, fruit and grain bars, and trail mix

  • Infant formulas and baby food varieties not included on the WIC-approved food list

  • Macaroni and cheese, hamburger helper, ramen noodles, and other packaged goods

  • Chips, crackers, and cookies

  • Frozen prepared foods

  • Pumpkin, sunflower, and other seeds, including food-producing plant seeds and starter plants for people to grow their own food

  • And much, much more

What Can I Do?

Please contact members of the HSB 216 subcommittee and urge them to vote no:

You can also contact all Representatives who serve on the House Health & Human Services Committee, and voice your opposition to HSB 216.

Please spread awareness about this harmful bill, and thank you in advance for your advocacy!

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Contact Your U.S. Representative Today to Protect SNAP

The U.S. House of Representatives is gearing up to pass massive cuts to spending programs through the Reconciliation Process, including possible proposals that would increase hunger and food insecurity in Iowa.

House Republicans are still negotiating with themselves about what proposed cuts will and will not be included, but according to a leaked memo from Rep. Jodey Arrington, Chairman of the House Budget Committee, the following proposals are being discussed:

  • Cutting Iowa households’ monthly SNAP benefits by an average of $70 every month by undoing a permanent increase to SNAP

  • Kicking 25,000 Iowans off SNAP by slashing income eligibility from 160% of the federal poverty level (FPL) to 130% FPL

  • Eliminating access to free school meals to over 25,000 kids in Iowa by making changes to the Community Eligibility Provision

  • Capping SNAP benefits for large families of more than six members

  • Expanding SNAP work requirements to older adults ages 55 and 56

Iowa’s Representatives need to hear loud and clear: we won’t stand for cuts and negative changes to SNAP and other nutrition programs. If you’re not sure, you can find out who your U.S. Representative is here.

Not sure what to say? Here’s some example language you can use, but don’t forget to let them know why this issue is personally important to you!

“Hello, I’m calling today to ask the Representative not to make any cuts to SNAP or other nutrition programs in the upcoming Reconciliation bill. SNAP helps 270,000 Iowans struggling with hunger and food insecurity put food on the table. At a time when Iowa’s food banks and food pantries are seeing record numbers of Iowans turning to them for assistance, the last thing we need is cuts to nutrition programs. Thank you.”

Iowans are struggling. Costs for basic needs to continue to rise and wages aren’t keeping pace for many workers. Prices at the grocery store are stubbornly high, and pandemic-era supports have dried up.

Please contact your U.S. Representative today and tell them: Iowans cannot afford cuts to SNAP and other vital nutrition programs.

We’ll be sending along more updates as they arise, but also encourage you to follow the Food Research and Action Center, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, and National WIC Association for federal nutrition updates if you’re not already receiving them.

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Update on State Legislation We’re Following

Double Up Food Bucks Bill (SSB 1012) Passes Senate Subcommittee 3-0 Today

A subcommittee meeting for held today for Senate Study Bill 1012, a $1 million appropriation for Double Up Food Bucks that was introduced last week by Sen. Mike Klimesh, Chair of the Senate Health & Human Services Committee. A state appropriation for the Double Up Food Bucks program is a top legislative priority for the Iowa Hunger Coalition.

We are happy to report that SSB 1012 passed the subcommittee meeting 3-0 today, with unanimous bipartisan support.

Double Up Food Bucks is a triple win for Iowa: it increases access to healthy food for SNAP participants, grows markets for Iowa’s food farmers, and supports local communities.

If you haven’t already, please contact the subcommittee members below and thank them for their support of Double Up Food Bucks!

Sen. Mike Klimesh – mike.klimesh@legis.iowa.gov
Sen. Mark Lofgren – mark.lofgren@legis.iowa.gov
Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott – sarah.trone.garriott@legis.iowa.gov

Thank you to all the advocates who reached out and showed up in person and online to support Double Up Food Bucks today! We’re pleased to see such positive momentum on this bill so early in the legislative session.

We’ll report on next steps for this bill, and a forthcoming companion bill in the House, in the coming days and weeks.

Tomorrow: HF 59 Subcommittee Meeting

House File 59 creates a Grocer Reinvestment Fund and Fruit and Vegetable Processing Grant Program, and appropriates funds to each. The bill prioritizes support to small independent grocers who procure local food and accept SNAP and WIC benefits – all good things we like!

A subcommittee meeting for HF 59 has been scheduled for tomorrow (Thursday) at 12:30pm in the House Lounge. Because this subcommittee meeting is in the House and not the Senate, you can watch the hearing online, but you may not speak.

Please contact the subcommittee members below and ask them to advance HF 59!

Rep. Mike Sexton – mike.sexton@legis.iowa.gov
Rep. Ken Croken – ken.croken@legis.iowa.gov
Rep. Shannon Latham – shannon.latham@legis.iowa.gov

Thank you for your ongoing advocacy!

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Over 150 Organizations Call on Gov. Reynolds to Ensure Iowa Participates in Summer EBT in 2025

153 groups and organizations from across the state of Iowa have signed on to a letter calling on Gov. Kim Reynolds to ensure Iowa participates in the Summer EBT (SUN Bucks) program in 2025. The state of Iowa has a January 1st deadline to submit a notice of intent to the U.S. Department of Agriculture to operate the program in 2025.

SUN Bucks would provide 245,000 children who qualify for free or reduced price school meals in Iowa with $120 in nutrition benefits during the summer while they are out of school. The program is evidence-based policy and has been shown to increase consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and dairy while reducing childhood food insecurity during the summer months. 

The letter and the list of co-signing organizations can be read in its entirety below.

Dear Gov. Reynolds,

We, the undersigned organizations, call on you to take action to ensure Iowa participates in the SUN Bucks (Summer EBT) program in 2025.

We are students. We are parents. We are people of faith. We are teachers. We are medical professionals. We are dieticians. We are farmers. We are social workers. We are staff and volunteers at food pantries and food rescue organizations. We are small business owners. We are advocates. We are union members. We are nonprofit leaders. We are county supervisors.  We are Iowans.

Right now, hundreds of thousands of our neighbors across the state are facing food insecurity. Families are being forced to make impossible choices between putting food on the table or making rent. Rising costs are taking their toll on workers whose paychecks just aren’t keeping up. Parents are skipping meals to make sure their kids are fed. 

Food banks, food pantries, and other emergency feeding organizations are assisting record-breaking numbers of Iowans, including staggering numbers of people turning to help for the first time.

In a country as wealthy as the United States of America, and in a state with as rich an agricultural tradition as Iowa, no child should ever go hungry. No matter who takes care of them, no matter where they live, no matter what.

SUN Bucks would provide $29 million in nutrition benefits to a quarter of a million children across the state next summer. While a $40 monthly benefit per eligible child may not seem like a large amount, it would absolutely make a meaningful difference in the lives of Iowa families.

Parents and other caregivers should be trusted to make the best food choices for their kids. Summer EBT is evidence-based policy, and has been shown to support healthy eating and reduce childhood food insecurity. SUN Bucks will not eradicate childhood hunger on its own, but it’s one of the best tools we have. We shouldn’t leave it on the table.

We are in this together. All of us, as Iowans, have a shared future. And that future lies in the next generation.

We hope you will do the right thing.

The time to act is now.

Signed (153),

4Cs Community Coordinated Child Care
AAUW Tama Toledo Branch
Agudas Achim Congregation
Amani Community Services
Ames Buddhist Mahasangha
AMOS
Ankeny First United Methodist Church
Ankeny Presbyterian Church
Asbury UMC
Aspire Behavioral Health Services, LLC
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Johnson County
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley
Birds & Bees Urban Farm
Bread for the World – Story County Chapter
The Bridge Church
Burlington Area Homeless Shelter
Burns United Methodist Church
Capitol Hill Christian Church
Cedar Valley United Way
Charles E. Lakin Human Services Campus
Christ Community Church
Christ Lutheran Church
Clay County Hunger Coalition
Clive Community Services
Collegiate Presbyterian Church and The Vine, Ames
Collegiate United Methodist Church & Wesley Foundation
Common Good Iowa
Community Action of Southeast Iowa
Coralville Community Food Pantry
Corridor Community Action Network
Council Bluffs Community School District
Crawford County Clinic
CROSS Outreach
Decorah Food Pantry
Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) Food Pantry Network
Des Moines Valley Friends Meeting
Dickinson County Hunger Coalition
Downtown Disciples
Drake Community Library
Dubuque Sisters of St. Francis
Episcopal Diocese of Iowa
Everybody Wins! Iowa
Families Forward
Family Planning of Southeast Iowa
Feed the Pack
Firefly
First Christian Church, Coralville
First Congregational Church of Marshalltown
Food Rescue Partnership
Fort Des Moines United Methodist Church
Franciscan Peace Center
Friends with Food
Grace Lutheran Church, Muscatine
Grinnell Farm to Table
Grinnell United Way
Handy’s Home Daycare and Preschool
Healthy Harvest of North Iowa
Heart of Iowa Big Brothers Big Sisters
Homestead 1839
IMPACT Community Action Partnership
Iowa Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Iowa ACEs 360
Iowa Alliance for Retired Americans
Iowa Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church Board of Church and Society
Iowa Catholic Conference
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement
Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Iowa Community Action Association
Iowa Community HUB
Iowa Farmers Union
Iowa Food System Coalition
Iowa Hunger Coalition
Iowa Interfaith Power & Light
Iowa Mental Health Advocacy
Iowa Methodist Federation for Social Action (MFSA)
Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice
Iowa State CAP Council
Iowa State Education Association
Iowa Unitarian Universalist Witness Advocacy Network (IUUWAN)
Iowa WTF
Johnson County Board of Supervisors
Johnson County Public Health
Johnston Partnership Place
Kenwood Park UMC
Latinas Unidas por un Nuevo Amanecer (L.U.N.A.)
LiUNA Local 177
LWV Metropolitan Des Moines
Marick Mechanical
Marshalltown Area United Way
Mary J Treglia Community House
Mayflower Congregational UCC
Meals on Wheels of Dickinson County
Middendorf Insurance
NAACP Des Moines
New Beginnings Christian Church
Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation
North Iowa Impact Team
North Liberty Community Pantry
North Liberty Library
Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church
Peoples Church Unitarian Universalist
Pepper Lane Creative
Plymouth Congregational Church
Polk County Board of Supervisors
Presbytery of Des Moines
Prevent Child Abuse Iowa
RESULTS Iowa
Resurrection Lutheran Church, Ankeny
SALUD-Multicultural Health Coalition of Storm Lake
The Salvation Army of Pottawattamie County, Iowa
Save the Children Action Network
Seeds of Faith Lutheran Church
Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton
Southeast Linn Community Center
Southeastern Iowa Synod, ELCA
Spencer Sacred Heart School
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church
St. Paul Lutheran Church
St. Theresa Church
St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church
The Storm Lake United Methodist Church Food Distribution
Table to Table Food Distribution Network
Trinity Las Américas UMC
Together
UAW Region 4
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames
United Action for Youth
United Way of Central Iowa
United Way of East Central Iowa
United Way of Dubuque Area Tri-States
United Way of Jasper County
United Way of Johnson & Washington Counties
United Way of Mahaska County
United Way of North Central Iowa
United Way of Southeast Iowa
United Way of Wapello County
United Way Quad Cities
United Ways of Iowa
United Women in Faith
Unity Church of Ames
Urbandale Food Pantry
Voluntary Action Center of the Iowa Great Lakes
Wakonda Christian Church
Walnut Hills United Methodist Church
Washington for Justice
Waterloo Schools Foundation
WeLIFT Job Search Center
West Central Community Action
Western Iowa Synod, ELCA
Woodside Acres
Young House Family Services
Young Women’s Resource Center

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IHC Issues Recommendations to Gov. Reynolds to Address Food Insecurity

On August 15, Gov. Reynolds requested a waiver from the USDA to operate a summer feeding demonstration project instead of participating in Summer EBT. As the Iowa Hunger Coalition stated at the time, we appreciate the fact that Gov. Reynolds recognizes the hunger crisis facing our state and that far too many Iowans facing food insecurity are not currently being served by nutrition programs.

As food banks, food pantries, and other anti-hunger organizations are assisting record-breaking numbers of Iowans, enrollment in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is near a 16-year low. This is an unsustainable path.

Recently, the Iowa Hunger Coalition learned that USDA denied Iowa’s request for federal funding to operate the proposed summer food box demonstration project.

It is our shared belief as Iowans that no child should go hungry. We are happy to offer our recommendations and expertise to Gov. Reynolds at this critical juncture. We believe that these policy recommendations provide the best path forward to reduce hunger and food insecurity in our state.  

The Iowa Hunger Coalition recommends Gov. Reynolds take the following actions:

  1. Take immediate action to ensure Iowa participates in Summer EBT (SUN Bucks) in 2025.
  2. Raise the income eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to 200% of the federal poverty level (FPL).
    • Increasing the income eligibility for SNAP up from 160% FPL would allow the program to support Iowans of all ages whose household incomes are currently too high to qualify, but still struggle to put food on the table.
    • This would expand SNAP income eligibility to an estimated 200,000 Iowans, 50% of whom are children or seniors.
    • This would also increase the number of children eligible for Summer EBT and free school meals through direct certification.
    • Raising income eligibility can also encourage participation among individuals who already qualified—this is known as the “woodwork effect.”
    • Additionally, the asset test for SNAP included in Senate File 494 should be repealed before it can be implemented by July 2025, or families will be at risk of losing SNAP benefits next summer.

  3. Provide state investment in the Double Up Food Bucks program.
    • The Double Up Food Bucks program incentivizes the purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables for SNAP participants.
    • In addition to a state appropriation, Iowa should also apply for federal matching funds available through the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) to maximize the impact of its investment.
    • Double Up Food Bucks has an economic multiplier effect of 1.9, keeping dollars circulating in communities and positively contributing to Iowa’s local food system.
    • IHC commits to advocate at the federal level to allow SUN Bucks benefits to qualify for Double Up Food Bucks purchases.

  4. Expand efforts to increase participation in SNAP, WIC, free and reduced price school meals, and summer meal sites.
  5. Explore measures to eliminate food deserts in Iowa.
    • With grocery stores shuttering in both urban and rural areas of the state, Iowa should explore ways to keep stores open and establish new locations in existing food deserts.
    • Doing so will improve access to more nutritious and affordable food for all Iowans, including those using SNAP, WIC, and Summer EBT.
    • Research shows that without full-service grocery stores nearby, consumers pay more and have less access to nutritious options, in both urban and rural areas.

The above recommendations would bring in tens of millions of dollars in nutrition support to Iowans facing food insecurity, generate even more in local economic activity, and cost the state a mere fraction of the benefits we would receive.

All of these proposals have bipartisan appeal, with many of the above recommendations receiving previous support from both Republicans and Democrats in the Iowa legislature.

Feeding our children is an investment in the future of Iowa. When kids lack adequate nutrition, it has lasting impacts on the rest of their lives. We must do everything in our power to support the physical, mental, and emotional health of our children. No child, nor any Iowan for that matter, should ever go hungry.

We stand ready to work with Gov. Reynolds, state agencies, and the Iowa legislature to achieve these policy recommendations and our shared vision for a hunger-free Iowa.

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Candidate Reponses to Summer EBT

In an effort to educate the public and voters, the Iowa Hunger Coalition asked all candidates for Iowa House and Senate the following question:

Do you believe Iowa should participate in the Summer EBT (SUN Bucks) program?

Today, IHC is launching a Summer EBT landing page and dashboard, where you can explore candidate responses. Not all candidates responded. All 100 of Iowa’s House Districts are up for election in 2024, along with half (25) of Iowa’s Senate Districts.

The Iowa Hunger Coalition is a nonpartisan organization, does not endorse candidates, and does not endorse the views shared by candidates below.

Read the Responses