A hearing for a bill that would force Nebraska’s governor to accept federal funding for the summer EBT program is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 1.In December, Nebraska’s governor rejected the funding. It would provide $120 to buy summer groceries for families of children facing food insecurity.”We’re going to feed all those kids way better than this federal program,” Jim Pillen told KETV Newswatch 7 at the time.An interactive map from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows Nebraska’s food insecurity average was just over 12% from 2020 to 2022. That’s nearly a full point more than the national average and higher than most surrounding states.”And in a state where agriculture is our leading industry, there’s something very wrong there,” said Omaha Sen. Jen Day.Food insecurity is what the USDA hopes to tackle with its new Summer EBT Program that launches in 2024. The federal government says more than 30 million children across the United States could benefit from it.Late last year, Pillen argued free meals are already available through schools, summer camp programs and the USDA. But senators like Day hope to make Pillen budge with LB 952.”Essentially what the bill does is it just basically compels the Department of Health and Human Services to opt in,” Day told KETV Newswatch 7 Thursday.The bill in the non-partisan unicameral has 17 sponsors, including three registered Republicans. One of them is Grand Island Senator Ray Aguilar, who made it his priority bill this session. “I think for a lot of my Republican colleagues, it’s a it’s a moral responsibility… because we are talking about feeding children,” Day said.Day hopes that drives the rest of her colleagues to get on board with the bill.”If we’re not doing something to fix that problem and relieve that anxiety and that stress for parents, then we are absolutely failing as policymakers,” Day said. Iowa also chose to opt out of the summer EBT program. Click here for the latest headlines from KETV NewsWatch 7
A hearing for a bill that would force Nebraska’s governor to accept federal funding for the summer EBT program is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 1.
In December, Nebraska’s governor rejected the funding. It would provide $120 to buy summer groceries for families of children facing food insecurity.
“We’re going to feed all those kids way better than this federal program,” Jim Pillen told KETV Newswatch 7 at the time.
An interactive map from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows Nebraska’s food insecurity average was just over 12% from 2020 to 2022. That’s nearly a full point more than the national average and higher than most surrounding states.
“And in a state where agriculture is our leading industry, there’s something very wrong there,” said Omaha Sen. Jen Day.
Food insecurity is what the USDA hopes to tackle with its new Summer EBT Program that launches in 2024. The federal government says more than 30 million children across the United States could benefit from it.
Late last year, Pillen argued free meals are already available through schools, summer camp programs and the USDA. But senators like Day hope to make Pillen budge with LB 952.
“Essentially what the bill does is it just basically compels the Department of Health and Human Services to opt in,” Day told KETV Newswatch 7 Thursday.
The bill in the non-partisan unicameral has 17 sponsors, including three registered Republicans. One of them is Grand Island Senator Ray Aguilar, who made it his priority bill this session.
“I think for a lot of my Republican colleagues, it’s a it’s a moral responsibility… because we are talking about feeding children,” Day said.
Day hopes that drives the rest of her colleagues to get on board with the bill.
“If we’re not doing something to fix that problem and relieve that anxiety and that stress for parents, then we are absolutely failing as policymakers,” Day said.
Iowa also chose to opt out of the summer EBT program.
