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The permanent, nationwide Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (Summer EBT) Program is set to begin in summer 2024. Thirty-five states, Washington, D.C. , all five territories, and four Inter-Tribal Organizations (ITOs) have committed to operating the program, providing families with a $120 grocery benefit for each child in the household eligible for free or reduced-price school meals.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Services (USDA FNS) has issued an Interim Final Rule (IFR) that details how states must implement and operate the program. Much of the language in this rule reflects what USDA FNS has released in prior guidance documents, including their latest Questions and Answers document. Because it is an interim final rule, there is an opportunity to submit comments on the rule, which are due on or before April 29, 2024.

In a recent volume of the Journal of Food Law & Policy, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack authored a commentary, “Healthy School Meals for All: The Role of Food Law and Policy”. [1]

This piece follows the second historic White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health that Secretary Vilsack kicked off in September 2022. The first Conference took place in 1969 and resulted in many impactful anti-hunger initiatives such as increasing the reach of the National School Lunch Program and permanently authorizing the School Breakfast Program.

In the commentary Vilsack noted that during the COVID-19 pandemic, “[the US Department of Agriculture (USDA)] leveraged every tool at our disposal and applied creative solutions with our partners” to use the federal nutrition programs to get healthy food to individuals and families and prevent widespread food insecurity.

The permanent, nationwide Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (Summer EBT) program is set to begin in summer 2024. Approximately 30.9 million children from households with low incomes will be eligible to receive a grocery benefit of $120.
Summer EBT reduces childhood hunger and helps ensure that children start the new school year well-nourished and ready to learn. Eligible children can only participate if their state, territory, or Indian Tribal Organization (ITO) opts into Summer EBT.

The Food Research & Action Center’s new state fact sheets detail the positive impact that Summer EBT will have on each state and territory, and the District of Columbia.

As 2023 comes to a close, it is of paramount importance that any tax package includes an expanded and inclusive Child Tax Credit (CTC) that centers on including the 19 million children who are currently left out of the full credit or any credit at all. Call on Congress to Expand the CTC in Any Tax Package.

In recognition of Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week in November, this blog lifts up opportunities to take action to support millions of families who are experiencing food insecurity and housing instability.
Across the nation, tens of millions of people are struggling to keep up with skyrocketing rents, stagnant incomes, and the end of COVID-19 pandemic-relief supports, which have resulted in growing food insecurity and housing instability. The “rent eats first” and “heat or eat” are phrases anti-hunger stakeholders hear all too often.