News

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.

On Monday, August 5, Iowa Hunger Coalition members Anne Discher of Common Good Iowa and Jon Krieg with American Friends Service Committee – Midwest visited the office of Gov. Kim Reynolds to deliver a petition calling on the governor to ensure Iowa participates in Summer EBT in 2025. The petition was signed by more than 3,500 Iowans from across the state.

Iowa chose not to participate in Summer EBT (also known as SUN Bucks) in 2024, a decision the Iowa Hunger Coalition strongly opposed. While efforts to pass legislation ensuring Iowa’s participation in 2025 were unsuccessful during the 2024 legislative session, advocates are re-doubling efforts to call on Iowa’s leaders to take action for next year.

More than 3,500 Iowans from across the state signed on to the petition. People from urban, suburban, and rural areas—major cities and small towns alike—signed the petition. A special shout-out goes to the communities of Decorah and Ottumwa, who had a high number of signatures relative to their size, and the ZIP code with the highest number of signatures: the Beaverdale neighborhood in Des Moines.

The petition allowed individuals to add their own comments. Many who signed on left brief comments, with the most common responses being “please feed our children,” “no child should have to go hungry,” and “food is a human right.” Others who signed the petition chose to leave longer comments urging the governor to take action.

Many of those comments focused on the high level of food insecurity in communities across Iowa right now, especially during the summer, and how inflation has made it more difficult for families to put food on the table.

“Many children are in need as parents struggle to keep a roof over the heads and the lights on, feeding their children should never be an issue, especially in Iowa. Yes, Iowans are resilient, yes, we’re tough, but access to food due to pricing is forcing working parents to use food banks if they are lucky to have one nearby.” – Kelly in Oelwein 

“I remember the days of being a single mom trying to work my way off welfare. Food for my kids was my biggest struggle. Especially in the summer when three growing kids would be home and need more meals per day from me.” – Sason in Des Moines

“Our children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews need this summer food assistance. With the cost of food skyrocketing…families who do receive government SNAP benefits are barely able to feed everyone in their families for the whole month because they don’t receive enough assistance due to inflation costs.” – Deni in Keokuk

“Governor Reynolds, I know you care deeply for the people of Iowa, including children who need this food.  Please support the Summer EBT program for 2025.” – Russell in Ames

Read more quotes on this topic:

 “Our flooded communities need this assistance. Our families in every community deserve the opportunity to feed their children.” – Sharon in Spirit Lake

“Please consider accepting federal funds to feed the less fortunate children in the state of Iowa. This could also help decrease violence in the homes of many Iowa families.” – Rebecca in Pomeroy

“Two school-age kids, tornado destroyed all our food.  No meal sites within an hour drive.  Very little food in our food pantry in a very small rural county.” – Rhonda in Greenfield

“Our children are our future and all human beings deserve their basic needs met.” – Katelyn in Grimes

“Please start making children a priority! No child should have to go to bed hungry!” – Toni in Dike

“This would help so many families get relief. It may seem like a small amount to some but can be lifesaving to others who have to choose between bills and food.” – Heather in Newton

“Many of our children in the school system are only able to eat a meal provided by the school. Summer EBT for some families is the difference to feed their children. Inflation and many factories doing layoffs have impacted the working class gravely.” – Kacie in Des Moines

“As a single mother with no financial support outside of my own income, this would be a lifesaver for my son.” – Nikki in Des Moines

“Please fund Summer EBT for our community. We have so many kids who don’t have proper access to food, especially in the summer when parents are at work.” – Lisa in Waterloo

“Iowa’s kids whose families have low incomes need ready access to nutritious food to help them not only survive but thrive. Summer EBT provides the best opportunity to ensure that all kids who need this support receive it as soon as possible.” – Barb in Le Claire

“I see a great need to help fight hunger and feed the kids of Jefferson County today and every day, especially during the summer months when free meals at school are not available.  The need to provide healthy and nutritious meals is very important for our community.” – Susan in Fairfield

“When my kids were younger we didn’t have a large income. We relied on WIC and food stamps to help us. I want to see other people be able to benefit when in need. While I now can support myself and what I want to purchase, I want other families to have healthy options.” – Michelle in Sheldon

“As a healthcare provider in rural Iowa I ask the governor to participate in the Summer EBT program. Food insecurity in my rural, poverty-ridden area of Iowa is a huge issue that we try to tackle locally as best we can, but it’s not enough.” – Andrew in Estherville

“My daughter needs this.” – Jasmine in Eagle Grove

“Please consider using this program in Iowa.  Every little bit helps in the fight against hunger.  Food is so expensive to people with steady incomes, let alone people with instability.” – Shelly in Burlington

“Please reconsider the decision to participate in the Summer EBT program. Summer is the hardest time for children and families when it comes to food security. There are local families who are being directly affected by this decision.” – Ema in Estherville

Parents, grandparents, and other concerned citizens pointed out barriers to accessing summer meal sites, especially in rural areas, and pointed to Summer EBT as an efficient and equitable solution to addressing childhood food insecurity.

“Even if our children’s school provided meals for the kids during the summer, we are rural Iowans. We cannot transport them the 12 miles to the school and 12 miles back home. Low income rural Iowans NEED the Summer EBT program!!!” – Linda in Macksburg

“The Summer EBT program would help put food in the house for my grandson who resides with me. I am a single grandmother and I don’t receive food assistance. I work nights and am a day sleeper, so I can’t get him to the meal sites during operating hours.” – Theresa in Council Bluffs

“It has been a hard summer trying to keep up feeding my girls without that extra help. I think that the summer program we have isn’t enough. It’s really hard as a single working mom to be able to get my kids to those locations when I’m at work. There’s no way for them to walk there and my mother stays with them and we share a car so we haven’t been able to use it at all this summer as we have no means to get there.” – Tara in Des Moines

“We used summer meal sites but had to drive 40 miles round trip to Primghar. We have a grocery store in our little town!” – Judith in Sutherland

Read more quotes on this topic:

 
“This is an efficient way to prevent childhood hunger in the summer.  It is much more efficient than community food banks and summer meals, which require time and transportation which may not be available.” – Karen from Maquoketa

“Get it done for 2025. Don’t sink it like 2024. Rural kids don’t have access to schools or meal sites like town/city kids.” – Terri from Anamosa

“There is only one summer lunch location available in my city for children.  Families must have transportation to and from.  During the one hour that they serve during the day.  Adults are not allowed to get food at the site so are not able to eat with the children they bring.  We have a variety of cultural backgrounds in my community but some options are not kosher or halal.  If families had money to purchase their own food they could afford to pack meals for children attending childcare or cook culturally appropriate food their family can enjoy together. Chronic stress is exacerbated by placing barriers to food access.” – Michelle from Urbandale

“Many Iowa children, particularly in rural areas, do NOT have access to meal sites.  Do the right thing for Iowa families.” – Jerelyn from Dubuque

“Many families in our community rely on the free breakfast & lunch program through the schools. Once summer hits, they are in financial strain trying to feed their families. The summer EBT program would help relieve that financial strain.” – Sara from Council Bluffs

 “We need help with these kids’ summer food. I struggle to feed my kids in the summer. We need the same thing other states are receiving that we are not – it’s not fair to us low-income families.” – Samantha from Ottumwa

“The children in my area cannot all access going to the one or two schools in our district that are feeding children at lunchtime. They are not walkable, bike-able, or accessible to all students. When parents are working, they can’t leave to take their children to go get lunch and sit at the school and wait for them to be done to then take them home. It’s not feasible or cost-effective. So some children are going to be left out of the school lunches because it is not an equal or equitable situation.” Amber from Bettendorf

“I relied upon P-EBT for my lunches and snacks during multiple summers. There are other programs available, but the restrictions of transportation and registration often limit children’s access entirely.” – Brody in West Des Moines

“Having kids come to a common area to eat meals doesn’t work in a rural area.” – Phillip in Farragut

“Children don’t get to choose their circumstances and they certainly don’t deserve to go without food, regardless of their parents ability to provide. Summer EBT benefits will greatly help to provide healthy, nutritional meals to the kiddos who may otherwise go without food in the summer. Our school system no longer offers summer meals, despite 52% of the students receiving free or reduced meals and one out of four households in Clarion alone is living below poverty level.” – Missy in Rowan

Food banks, food pantries, and other nonprofit organizations are seeing historic levels of need this summer, and are struggling to keep up with demand.

“With no other clear alternatives in sight, by not accepting Summer EBT you place additional burden on food pantries and food banks which are already operating at capacity. Please consider accepting 2025 Summer EBT assistance from the federal government.” – Michelle in Des Moines

“I volunteer two days a week at Monroe County Food Bank.  So many grandparents are coming in for food to feed their grandchildren living with them.  Please allow Summer EBT for 2025.” – Pat in Albia

“Our local pantry is experiencing double the need, and our summer free lunches for kids is also facing overwhelming need. Please accept federal monies to keep up with this expanding need.” – Susan in Decorah

“I am a volunteer coordinator at a food pantry. Our numbers are soaring. We rely only on donations and grants. It is hard to keep shelves full.” – Lois in Perry

Read more quotes on this topic:

“My husband and I volunteer at the Urbandale Food Pantry, so we see the faces of our neighbors who are unable to afford nutritious food for their families. We have also seen the lines grow longer as our state politicians remove or restrict access to this basic human need. We need healthy communities for our state to thrive. Iowans should not go hungry, especially our children!” – Ellen in Urbandale

“I am a pastor and in my community we get so many requests for assistance for families in need. Many of our Iowa families are struggling to get by. Our families, and especially our children need this allotment of money from the federal government.” – Marion in Decorah

“Our food pantry needs you to sign this! Too many kids are hungry this summer – over 65% of those we serve are under 18 years old!” – Andrea in Johnston

“I’m a director of a foundation who donates every year to Iowa nonprofits. These include food banks each year, who have let us know about high demand from families in need. The state of Iowa needs to step up. With an enormous surplus, why not help hungry kids and families?” – Cindy in Sioux City

“We need to feed the kids in the summertime. It puts more pressure on the food pantries, that are already struggling to stay afloat.” – Roma in Davenport

“Especially with so much flooding, food banks are very stretched. It really could help some of our most vulnerable: Iowa’s children.” – Marissa in Williamsburg

“Hunger is real. Many Iowans and their families are struggling. Food banks are stretched. Can’t you see people are hurting?” – Kathleen in Eldridge

“I work at a food pantry weekly. The number of people and children in dire situations is astounding!  Do something about it.” – Judy in Waukee

“I have seen a strain in our local pantry due to the extra need from some of these families…Step up and do what’s right for these families! The income guidelines are already extremely low. Inflation rates make it difficult to even survive with what you get in SNAP anymore.” – Emily in Pocahontas

“Our food pantries cannot keep up with the increased need for food in the summer when children are home. Please bring this resource to the homes of the families that need assistance.” – Sheri in Burlington

“Seeing hungry children come to the food pantry where I volunteer in rural Iowa brings tears to my eyes when I know funding was available to help them, but was rejected for no good reason.” – Bruce in Clive

“Food banks were not the answer to helping these families in 2024 as many of the food banks in the rural areas were struggling with getting enough food to keep them filled.” – Carleen in Manilla

“Way too many people are going without. We are an emergency food pantry and do not have the space or product to give to people more than once a month. There are a few other pantries around but the clients have no way there, the hours are odd, or they can only go once as well. This is needed!” – Patty in Mount Pleasant

“Hunger and food insecurity are at crisis levels in Iowa right now, with food banks and food pantries breaking records constantly. Hundreds of thousands of low-income kids would have benefited from this program this summer. Iowa shouldn’t sit out again! Kids deserve our support.” – Jenelle in Storm Lake

“Hunger and food insecurity are something I see daily working in a nonprofit with families- even those who you would consider to not be ‘low income’ are struggling. Please accept this funding to assist families in feeding their children!” – Laura in Ankeny

“As Co-Chair of MANNA for Fairfield (Meeting Ageless Nutritional Needs Abundantly), I have personally witnessed the hunger needs of children in Jefferson County, Iowa. In June 2024, our Food Bank Ministry served 285 Individuals (many of them Children) in 131 Households.” – Stephen in Fairfield

“As coordinator of a food pantry I see many families with children of all ages come in for food. Many come in every month.” – Jacqueline in Fort Madison

“I am on a library board that supports a local lunch program for kids in the summer.  There are so many kids who need help with nutrition during the summer months while parents are working.  Please support our kids!” – Ruth in Britt

“I volunteer at St. Paul’s neighborhood meals program here in Cedar Rapids. I have seen the need and hear the stories. These are working class poor people who need a tiny bit of help to provide their kids nutritious food. Let’s be real about what’s going on and lend them a hand.” – Laurel in Cedar Rapids

Another common theme shared by many signatories was the link between Summer EBT and the ability for families to afford more nutritious food choices.

“Right now, kids need food.  Parents aren’t stupid.  If they have extra money, they will use it for fresh fruits and veggies which they normally wouldn’t buy.  Chips are cheaper than cantaloupe, so extra cash goes further.” – Gale in Davenport

“I have a 15-year-old son with special needs that only eats certain foods and Summer EBT would help families a lot…We all need help and when prices keep rising we can’t even afford to buy as much food as before. People need help.” – Christina in Ottumwa

“I go hungry often to make sure my kids have food to last. It’s my job, I’m not complaining at all but it’s literally impossible with the way the economy is. Food is tremendously expensive and what used to last a month maybe makes it to the middle of the month. I shop as cheap as I can and I usually don’t buy unhealthy foods for my kids but healthy food is super expensive. We definitely need help.” – Megan in Elliott

“Children, our most precious citizens, deserve access to nutritional and healthy foods.  It’s not surprising there is an obesity epidemic. Healthy foods cost more. Overly-processed ‘fast foods’ are cheap. This is the great divide in our country. Charity is not enough.” – Carrie in Bettendorf

Read more quotes on this topic:

“Give your fellow Iowans credit for the ability to make good food choices.” – Shelley in Cedar Rapids

“I have volunteered at a local food pantry for 16 years. Many of those in need of help look for the healthy choices and are very aware of best nutritional choices.  I feel there has been a stereotyping of those who need help as wasting money on junk food. I just do not see that from my experiences with clients.” – Kathy in Ankeny

“We have seen tremendous need in Ames and Story County in the number of children and adults facing food insecurity. It is shameful to know that our neighbors are going without this summer. Please give them the dignity inherent in shopping for and purchasing their own food according to their own wants, needs and lifestyles. This level of independence is necessary.” – Sarah in Ames

“P-EBT helped my family so much to buy fresh fruits and vegetables. While we probably wouldn’t qualify now, I really hope they bring it back for those that do.” – Rebecca in Dubuque

“Food insecurity often hits those 18 and younger the hardest. The food banks try very hard to include fresh fruit and vegetables in what they offer, but the Summer EBT program is much more organized and the delivery vehicle is more user friendly. Eating what is cheap is often not nutritious and leads to obesity and other health problems with our youth that put further burden on the health care system.” – Tracy in Cedar Rapids

Many individuals who signed the petition highlighted the importance of nutrition for children’s development.

“Please consider! As a registered dietitian, this is so important to get essential nutrients into kids for growing and learning!” – Tina in Spirit Lake

“With poor nutrition early in life being associated with long term, and expensive, health conditions later in life, this program is a good investment.” – Gilbert in Atlantic

“Children need adequate and good nutrition to have strong brains and bodies. Children especially need this because they are growing so rapidly. We must accept the Summer EBT offer next year. Anything else is unconscionable.” – Diana in Des Moines

Read more quotes on this topic:

“Please don’t let Iowa children go without food.  It’s essential for brain development and learning.  These children deserve better from you.” – Catherine in Anamosa

“Please feed our children in 2025!  Brain development is dependent on good nutrition.” – Jeanne in Bellevue

“We have kids in Iowa where school lunches are their guaranteed meal for the day during the school year. An extra $40 for food a month is a way to help these kids get the food they need to grow into healthy adults.” – Jacey in West Des Moines

“Kids can’t grow and learn when they’re hungry!  This is Iowa! We grow food for the world.  We can certainly feed our own children!” – Jean in Waukee

“As a public health director, clinician and citizen of a rural community, I urge you to participate in the Summer EBT program. Many of our children can count only on school meals and community funded meals for nutrition. Our food banks are overwhelmed, and our grassroots efforts (community gardens, volunteers, food drives) are not able to meet the demand. Nutrition is important to mental health and also physical development. With stretched budgets, families are filling their stomachs with highly processed, cheap junk. In Henry County, our obesity rate is above the state average at 39%; we desperately need nutritious food for our children, our FUTURE. Weigh the cost of obesity related illnesses (diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, asthma, cancer) against the cost of providing nutritious food for our kids.” – Katie in Mount Pleasant

Teachers and other school support staff who work with students every day called on the Governor to participate in Summer EBT in 2025, as they see the need rising.

“As a teacher in a school where all students eat free, I’d love to know my students are getting to eat when they’re not in school. I don’t think it’s ever wrong to give food to children.” – Tonia in Adel

“I work with students whose only source of a healthy meal is at school. Summer is so hard. These kids already lead tough lives, why are we making it harder? Support the Summer EBT program and feed hungry kids!” – Sarah in Washington

“As an Iowa public educator, I’m aware of the benefits this program has. No child deserves to be hungry, especially if that can be the factor that makes them fear time off.” – Jennifer in Brooklyn

Read more quotes on this topic:

“As a school nurse I fully support the summer EBT program for children in Iowa. Hungry children don’t learn well and eat more cheap junk food.” – Pam in Iowa City

“I am an elementary school teacher, working in a low SES school, and the free breakfast and lunch many of my kids need, deserve, and currently get is why they are able to learn, prosper, and be valuable contributors to their community and beyond. When kids’ basic needs aren’t met, they can’t learn, and they certainly can’t thrive. We need to foster the growth of our kids for the future of our country, not to mention, they are deserving and worthy because they are HUMAN beings.“ – Michelle in Iowa City

“As a teacher, I see firsthand how hungry kids are! I would love to see those who benefit from school lunches also getting help during the summer. Please put Iowa kids front of mind when you make this decision!” – Jess in Coralville

“Please feed the children. I was an elementary teacher for over 30 years. I have seen the struggles for children who have food insecurity.” – Lynn in Corydon

Summer EBT not only supports children and families, but local communities as well.

“Iowa families deserve security. Providing Iowa kids with consistent access to food ensures they are able to contribute to our community in meaningful ways. By having their basic needs met, children can focus on education and enriching activities instead of the pain of hunger. Please feed our kids!” – Ashley in Ankeny

“This is important- our children are your children. We all benefit when kids get proper nutrition and food security. As a former dietitian, I can tell you this has been studied to the moon and back and the evidence is clear.” – Brenda in Huxley

“I farm in Cedar County and I love that my customers at farmers market can use EBT and receive Double Up Food Bucks when they purchase my veggies. There are so many hungry Iowa kids and we have the resources to feed them. Please, participate in summer EBT!” – Molly in Mechanicsville

Read more quotes on this topic:

“Investing in feeding kids also invests in local communities” – Tiffany in Clive

“There is nothing more pro-life than making sure that Iowa children are not hungry.  The EBT program is good for children & for the business community in Iowa. Do the right thing!” – Rachel in Urbandale

“Helping kids living in poverty also spills over to help farmers too who benefit from increased food sales.” – Jasmine in St. Charles

Many people who signed the petition expressed disbelief that our state did not participate in 2024, using phrases like “no brainer” and “this should not be a partisan issue.”

“Why is this even an issue? Kids need food. As a parent to four boys, I have three jobs and it’s barely enough to keep food on the table. Do better.” – Nicole in Des Moines

“Please feed the kids.  I would think helping kids would be one easy way for all of us to come together.” – Wendy in Clear Lake

“Never thought I’d need to sign a petition advocating FEEDING CHILDREN, but here we are.” – Lucas in Cedar Rapids

Read more quotes on this topic:

“There’s absolutely no reason to keep food from children. Administrative costs? We have a surplus!” – Joni in Cedar Rapids

“There is no downside to feeding kids and easing the stress on parents.” – Donna in Murray

 “Many thousands of Iowa children desperately need the Summer EBT program. As Governor you have the ability to help our children! As an Iowan my entire life I cannot see why you are not doing this!” – Brenda in Olin

“It is unconscionable that our state would refuse such an impactful and innovative program as Summer EBT while families throughout Iowa are struggling with rising costs and limited access to nutritionally and culturally appropriate food. Embracing this federal resource should be an easy and quick decision for our leaders to make.” – Paul in Des Moines

“It is vital that we show that we care about the children of Iowa more than gaining political points. As a father and grandfather, I urge acceptance of the nutrition that enrollment in the Summer EBT provides for our families in need. It is the right thing to do!” – Steven in Mount Vernon

“I was born an Iowan and have been a registered Republican for many decades.  Jesus said, ‘Feed the hungry’ and never said, ‘Own the Libs.’” – John in Iowa City

“Governor Reynolds, I suggest that you sit down with children…Speak to them about their summertime nutrition and sources of food.  You would probably come to realize that it is unwise to turn down this funding again.” – Patricia in Fort Dodge

“This should have been a ‘no brainer’ for our state. There is no valid reason to not utilize this funding for Iowa’s children. Low income kids need the resources available to help them grow and thrive. The funds help families afford good food choices.” – Nancy in Neola

“Seems like common sense to do all we can to make sure children are fed.” – Deborah in Atlantic

“What kind of dystopia requires advocating to feed kids? Meeting basic needs is the building block for success in school and in life. This should not even be a discussion.” – Kim in Des Moines

“Crazy that I am having to sign a petition to ensure this happens.” – Amanda in Diagonal

The Iowa Hunger Coalition would like to thank everyone who signed and shared this Summer EBT petition. Together, we have shown that Iowans across the state support this vital program. Thank you for your ongoing advocacy!

The Iowa Hunger Coalition (IHC) is launching an online petition to urge Gov. Kim Reynolds to take steps to ensure Iowa participates in Summer EBT in 2025. IHC has set a goal of gathering 2,500 signatures by Friday, August 2. Iowans can sign the petition by visiting iowahungercoalition.org/summer-ebt.

“It’s past time for Gov. Reynolds to put national partisan politics aside and do what’s right for Iowa,” said Luke Elzinga, IHC board chair and policy and advocacy manager at the DMARC Food Pantry Network. “We are calling on all Iowans to take action and hold our state government accountable. Nobody should be willing to accept another summer where hundreds of thousands of low-income kids in our state miss out on Summer EBT.”

Summer EBT, also known as SUN Bucks, is the first new federal childhood nutrition program in two decades, and was created by a bipartisan act of Congress in December 2022. Iowa notably declined to participate in Summer EBT in 2023, a decision strongly opposed by the Iowa Hunger Coalition. Iowa is one of 13 states that chose not to participate in Summer EBT in 2023.

The program would provide $120 in nutrition benefits during the summer to 245,000 children in Iowa who qualify for free and reduced price school meals. Summer EBT is evidence-based policy, and has been shown to reduce childhood food insecurity while increasing consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and dairy.

“With household budgets stretched thin, families are facing incredibly difficult decisions to put food on the table this summer,” said Sheila Hansen, IHC board member and senior policy advocate and government relations manager at Common Good Iowa. “Meanwhile, the state of Iowa is sitting on a two-billion dollar surplus. Summer EBT is an incredibly effective use of state funds that would make a profound impact in the daily lives of hundreds of thousands of Iowans.”

Food banks, food pantries, and other anti-hunger organizations across the state of Iowa continue to face record-breaking numbers of people turning to them for assistance. Advocates trace the beginning of this trend back to April 2022, when Emergency Allotments for SNAP ended, drastically reducing benefit amounts for Iowans enrolled in the program.

“On top of the sustained increases we’d already been seeing at food banks and pantries over the past two years, this summer has been absolutely relentless, no matter where you are in the state,” said Nicole McAlexander, executive director of Southeast Linn Community Center and vice chair of IHC’s board. “Similar to individuals, organizations are facing difficult financial decisions, and staff and volunteers are being pushed to the limit to make sure the need is met.”

The Iowa Hunger Coalition is also coordinating an organizational sign-on letter, and is separately urging nonprofit organizations, faith communities, businesses, clubs, and other civic groups to contact the Governor’s office, Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, and Iowa Department of Education in support of Summer EBT.

The petition specifically calls on Gov. Kim Reynolds to direct the Iowa Department of Education and the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to work together to submit an interim Plan of Operation and Management (iPOM) to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service (USDA FNS) by August 15, 2024. Once USDA FNS has approved a state’s iPOM, state agencies can begin drawing down federal matching funds for program implementation and administration.

“We are calling on Iowa to take action to ensure Iowa participates in Summer EBT in 2025, and every year following,” said Elzinga. “Regardless of whether or not Iowa submits an interim Plan of Operation and Management to USDA by the August 15 deadline or not, we will keep fighting until Iowa participates in Summer EBT.”

The Iowa Hunger Coalition applauds ongoing efforts by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to reduce the payment error rate for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in Iowa.

Data released last week from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (USDA FNS) showed Iowa’s payment error rate (PER) for SNAP in FY 2023 was 5.19%, less than half the national average of 11.68%, and a marked improvement from Iowa’s payment error rate of 8.60% in FY 2022. Iowa now ranks as having the 6th lowest SNAP payment error rate of any state or territory in the nation, tied with Wyoming.

“We commend the Department of Health and Human Services and Director Kelly Garcia for their sustained efforts to reduce payment errors for SNAP in Iowa,” said IHC board chair Luke Elzinga. “Ensuring accuracy in benefit payments is vital to protecting the public trust of SNAP.”

The payment error rate measures the accuracy of Iowa HHS’ eligibility and benefit determinations for SNAP. Payment errors include both underpayments and overpayments. They are the result of inadvertent errors made on the part of a SNAP applicant or state agency. The payment error rate does not represent program fraud.

If a household has been found to have received an overpayment of benefits, even if the source of the error was the agency, HHS is required to work toward recovering excess benefits from households, whether that be through reducing future benefit payments or initiating collection actions through the Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL). Households who are found to have received an underpayment in benefits may be able to recoup them through a process to restore lost benefits with Iowa HHS.

Background on Iowa’s SNAP Payment Error Rate

In 2019, the state of Iowa was issued a $1.8 million fine from USDA FNS for having a payment error rate of 10.0% – which was 3.2% higher than the national average in FY 2018 (6.8%).

Iowa chose to designate 50% of the liability amount toward new investments in approved activities to improve SNAP administration through its Business Process Redesign (BPR) and designated the remaining 50% of the liability amount as at risk for repayment if a liability amount for an excessive payment error rate was established for FY 2019. This did occur, and the state paid the liability, when the payment error rate for Iowa in FY 2019 increased to 12.5%—5.1 percentage points higher than the national average that year (7.4%).

Since then, Iowa has shown improvements in reducing its payment error rate. While USDA does not have official payment error rate data for FY 2020 and FY 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a 2022 legislative presentation by HHS, the payment error rate for SNAP in Iowa fell to 9.4% in FY 2020 and 6.6% in FY 2021.

“In five short years, Iowa reversed its trajectory on payment error rates and continues to make advances while other states are falling further behind,” said Elzinga. “Iowa’s SNAP payment error rate is now well below the national average, and that is a testament to the work of Director Garcia and the entire team at HHS.”

Muddying the Waters: Misinformation About the Payment Error Rate

When advantageous to their political goals, the payment error rate has been used by politicians and interest groups, namely the Foundation for Government Accountability (FGA) and their lobbying arm, Opportunity Solutions Project (OSP), to negatively target SNAP.

OSP has been active in Iowa since 2017, but following the 2019 fine from USDA for an excessive payment error rate, Representatives and Senators of the Iowa Legislature used the fine as justification for increased administrative hurdles for SNAP and other public assistance programs, focusing greater attention on model legislation drafted by FGA/OSP.  The payment error rate was explicitly used as justification for Senate File 494, which passed Iowa’s legislature in 2023 and was signed into law by Governor Kim Reynolds.

“We know—we know because we’ve been fined by the federal government—we know that fraud and abuse exist within our system…welfare reform is a priority because we have to root out that fraud and abuse.”

Senate President Amy Sinclair, Iowa Press, January 27, 2023

It bears repeating: the payment error rate for SNAP measures the accuracy of Iowa HHS’ eligibility and benefit determinations for SNAP. Payment errors include both underpayments and overpayments. They are the result of inadvertent errors made on the part of a SNAP applicant or state agency. The payment error rate does not represent program fraud.

The Iowa Hunger Coalition lobbied heavily against the passage of SF 494 and called on Gov. Reynolds to veto the legislation. SF 494 has a legislated implementation deadline of July 1, 2025.

Iowa’s federal delegation has also focused attention on SNAP’s payment error rate and used it as justification to negatively target SNAP.

Last September, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) introduced the “Snap Back Inaccurate SNAP Payments Act,” which would require states to cover the cost of overpayments and remove any tolerance threshold when calculating the SNAP payment error rate, making even a single cent of overpayment or underpayment of benefits count toward the payment error rate. In November, Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-IA04) introduced companion legislation to Sen. Ernst’s bill in the House. Press releases announcing both bills included praise from FGA’s president and CEO and reinforced the falsehood that payment errors represent program fraud.

“FGA and OSP have pushed a false narrative equating the payment error rate with fraud, and have unfortunately been successful in doing so, especially in Iowa,” said Elzinga. “But make no mistake: Iowa’s success in reducing its payment error rate pre-dates legislation like SF 494, which has yet to be implemented.”

Areas for Improvement Still Exist

While Iowa’s payment error rate continues to show improvement, other metrics measuring the efficiency and effectiveness of SNAP don’t look as positive for the state, including Iowa’s application processing timeliness (APT).

Iowa’s APT in FY 2022 was 78.34%, meaning that only 78% of SNAP applications in Iowa were processed within a timely manner—30 days for the average applicant, or 7 days for applicants who qualify for expedited service. This was Iowa’s lowest APT since it started being recorded in 2011, and fell well below USDA’s acceptable rate of 95%. 

Perhaps even more concerning is a metric shared in another new report from USDA FNS, Characteristics of SNAP Households – FY22, which found that 44% of entrant SNAP households in Iowa in FY 2022 who qualified for expedited service did not receive it.

Because of its poor performance, Iowa is currently on a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) with USDA FNS to get its application processing timeliness in an acceptable range. USDA FNS data for application processing timeliness has not yet been released for FY 2023.

Additionally, Iowa’s Program Access Index (PAI) for SNAP is currently the lowest it has ranked since 2008, and has ranked below the national average since 2019. Iowa’s SNAP PAI continues to decline, indicating that the program is becoming less and less accessible to Iowans who are eligible for the program.

And while Iowa’s SNAP Case and Procedural Error Rate (CAPER) is below the national average, it is still a concerning number: 33.2% in FY 2023. This means that in one-third of cases where a household’s SNAP benefits were denied, terminated, or suspended one or more of the following was true:

• The decision was inaccurate; 
• The notice provided to the household was inaccurate, unclear, insufficient;
• The notice provided to the household was not timely; and/or  
• The procedures followed related to these decisions were inaccurate or not timely.

Iowa has made great strides to improve its payment error rate for SNAP, but there are still improvements to be made: not only with continuing to keep the payment error rate down, but also to improve application processing timeliness, reduce the case and procedural error rate in the state, and improve access to the program.

“The Iowa Hunger Coalition calls on our elected officials to take action to ensure Iowans have ready access to the benefits for which they are eligible,” said Elzinga. “When food banks, food pantries, and other anti-hunger organizations are assisting record-breaking numbers of Iowans, SNAP enrollment should not be at a 16-year low in the state. Solely focusing greater scrutiny on caseworkers and applicants to reduce payment errors should not come at the cost of application processing timeliness or reduced access to SNAP benefits.”

Last Thursday, May 23, the state of Iowa announced the grant awardees for the Summer Meal Program Expansion Grant through the Iowa Department of Education. 38 school districts and host organizations were awarded a total of $900,000 to launch 61 new meal sites across the state this summer. In 2023, the average daily attendance at summer meal sites in Iowa was 21,557, reaching less than 10% of students who qualified for free and reduced price school meals.

A full list of summer meal sites for 2024 in Iowa is not yet available, but if all 512 sites from 2023 return in addition to the 61 grant award sites, the grant program will:

• Expand the number of summer meal sites in Iowa by 11%
  
  
• Establish summer meal sites at 12 school districts that did not host a site in 2023
  
  
• Support purchases of locally-grown foods

The Iowa Hunger Coalition commends the Iowa Department of Education for allocating $900,000 in American Rescue Plan funding to expand meal sites this summer. About one-third of grant funding was directed to areas that did not previously have a summer meal site in 2023. This investment will certainly have a positive impact for thousands of low-income children in Iowa who could not previously access summer meals.

However, there are still numerous barriers that exist in accessing summer meal sites, even when they are closer in proximity. Most sites require students to eat the meal on-site, though some rural areas are permitted to operate “grab and go” meals. If parents or caregivers are present, in most cases they are not provided a meal, or must pay for it themselves. Children who are staying at home alone may not be able to travel to meal sites, even if they are nearby.

Summer meal sites can vary greatly in their accessibility. While most sites are “open,” meaning any child can access a free meal on a first-come, first-served basis, some sites operate as “closed enrolled” or “camp,” meaning they are only available to students enrolled in a program or camp. In 2023, 398 of 512 summer meal sites (78%) operated as “open.”

Hours and days of operation can vary from site to site as well. Many sites operate Monday-Friday, but others are only available one or two days a week. Some serve breakfast and lunch, while others only serve one meal, or in some cases, just an afternoon snack. Meal sites may only serve food within a short window of time that not all children are able to attend. Many sites operate June through August, but others are only available for a single month during the summer.

Even with the expansion grant, 176 of 327 public school districts in Iowa (54%) are not expected to have a summer meal site available in 2024. Collectively, these school districts are home to 45,843 students who qualify for free or reduced price school meals—and will have no access to school meals this summer. Had the state of Iowa participated in Summer EBT, these students would have received a total of $5.5 million in nutrition benefits.

Last December, the state of Iowa announced it would not be participating in Summer EBT, and would instead be exploring options to expand existing programs. The Summer Meal Program Expansion Grant Program was subsequently announced on April 10, 2024.

Summer EBT, also now known as SUN Bucks, is a federal childhood nutrition program that provides $40 in monthly nutrition benefits during the summer to children who qualify for free and reduced price school meals. The program is intended to complement, not replace, other USDA child nutrition programs like the Summer Food Service Program and Seamless Summer Option.

245,000 children in Iowa would have benefitted from Summer EBT, starting in just a few days, had the state chosen to participate in the program. $29 million in benefit amounts would have supported children and families who struggle to put food on the table during the summer. It would have cost the state about $9 per child to provide them with $120 in nutrition benefits.

The USDA has conducted research on Summer EBT going back to 2011, and found evidence that providing additional nutrition benefits to kids during the summer reduces childhood food insecurity and increases consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and dairy (with no increase in consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages).

In most cases, the amount of Summer EBT benefits that students would have received greatly surpasses the amount of funding granted to organizations to expand summer meal sites. In two instances, the grant award to expand summer meal sites was larger than the amount of money that would have been allocated to students through Summer EBT.

• Central Community School District was awarded $51,557 to open four summer meal sites this summer—the single largest grant award both in funding amount and number of new sites. Central Community School District did not operate any summer meal sites in 2023. There are 196 students (43% of student body) who receive free or reduced price school meals in the district, and Summer EBT would have provided a total of $23,520 in nutrition benefits to those 196 students.
  
  
• Colo-NESCO Community School District was awarded $39,918 to open three summer meal sites this summer. The district operated one summer meal site in 2023. There are 154 students (45% of student body) who receive free or reduced price school meals in the district, and Summer EBT would have provided a total of $18,480 in nutrition benefits to those 154 students.

The Iowa Hunger Coalition anxiously awaits a complete list of 2024 summer meal sites, which will enable a more detailed analysis of the impact of the new grant program and summer meal access to be conducted.

More Details on New Summer Meal Sites and Grant Awardees

The grant awards went to 38 sponsor organizations, including:

• 35 school districts, 12 of which (34%) did not host a summer site in 2023
  
  
• One private school district who did not host a site in 2023, Saint Albert Catholic School/Council Bluffs Area Catholic Education System
  
  
• Two nonprofit organizations, including one that did not host a site in 2023, Story Medical Center, which is hosting three sites located within Collins-Maxwell Community School District
  
  • In 2023, Collins-Maxwell Community School District hosted a site at Collins-Maxwell Elementary School—Story Medical Center received grant funding to operate a site there in 2024
    
    
• In total, 14 of the 38 grantees did not host a site in 2023 (37%)
  

The grants will support 61 new summer meal sites, including:

• 11 of 12 awarded school districts who did not operate a summer meal site in 2023 were each granted $16,639 to open a single (1) summer site in 2024
  
  
  • In total, 3,817 (37% of student body) students of these districts qualify for free or reduced price school meals
    
    
  • The private school district is also launching a single site with a $16,639 grant
    
    
• The other new district, Central Community School District, received a grant of $51,557 to launch four sites in Summer 2024 – the most sites of any grant awarded and largest award amount.
  
  
  • 196 students (43% of student body) qualify for free or reduced price school meals
    
    
  • It would have only cost $23,520 to provide Summer EBT for these students, less than half the cost of this grant program
    
    
• Among the 23 school districts that DID operate summer meal sites in 2023:
  
  
  • 11 were each granted $16,639 to open an additional one (1) site in 2024:
    • Five of these 11 districts operated one site in 2023
    • Two of these 11 districts (Riceville and Spencer) operated two sites in 2023
    • Two of these 11 districts (Vinton-Shellsburg and Maple Valley-Anthon Oto) operated four sites in 2023
    • Iowa City operated 16 sites in 2023
    • Waterloo operated 19 sites in 2023
      
      
  • Six were each granted $28,279 to open an additional two (2) sites in 2024:
    • Des Moines Independent School District, which operated 46 sites in 2023 
    • Estherville Lincoln Community School District, which operated one site
    • Oskaloosa Community School District, which operated five sites
    • Riverside Community School District, which operated one site
    • Shenandoah Community School District, which operated five sites
    • Waukee Community School District, which operated five sites
      

• Six were each granted $39,918 to open an additional three (3) sites in 2024:
  • Cedar Rapids Community School District, which operated 27 sites in 2023 
  • Colo-NESCO Community School District, which operated one site
  • Council Bluffs Community School District, which operated 15 sites
  • Davenport Community School District, which operated 21 sites
  • Hampton Dumont Community School District, which operated one site
  • Ottumwa Community School District, which operated six sites