OMAHA, Neb. — Nebraska’s Republican governor on Friday reiterated his rejection of $18 million in federal funding to assist feed youngsters who may in any other case go hungry whereas college is out.

Nebraska won’t take part within the 2024 Summer time Digital Advantages Switch for Kids – or Summer time EBT – program, Gov. Jim Pillen mentioned in a written assertion. That assertion got here as advocates for youngsters and low-income households held a information convention exterior the Governor’s Mansion in Lincoln to name on Pillen to alter his thoughts earlier than the Jan. 1 deadline to join this system.

This system – a part of federal help made obtainable throughout the COVID-19 pandemic – would supply pre-loaded EBT playing cards to households whose youngsters are eligible totally free and reduced-price lunches in school. These households would obtain $40 per eligible little one monthly over the summer time. The playing cards can be utilized to purchase groceries, much like how SNAP advantages are used.

“COVID-19 is over, and Nebraska taxpayers count on that pandemic-era authorities aid packages will finish too,” Pillen mentioned in his assertion. Pillen introduced on Dec. 19 that Nebraska wouldn’t take part in this system. He has drawn a firestorm of criticism for later defending that stance at a information convention by saying, “I don’t imagine in welfare.”

Neighboring Iowa can be opting out of this system, with Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds saying that call final week and saying, “An EBT card does nothing to advertise vitamin at a time when childhood weight problems has turn out to be an epidemic.”

States that take part within the federal program are required to cowl half of the executive prices, which might value Nebraska an estimated $300,000. Advocates of this system be aware that the executive value is much outweighed by the $18 million profit, which the U.S. Division of Agriculture estimates would profit 175,000 Nebraska youngsters who may in any other case go hungry on some days throughout the summer time.

Advocacy group Nebraska Appleseed on Friday delivered a petition bearing greater than 6,100 signatures from 230 communities throughout Nebraska calling on the state to make the most of the federal Summer time EBT program. Lots of those that signed the petition additionally included feedback expressing how a lot this system is required, particularly in gentle of multi-year inflation that has outpaced many family incomes.

“All the pieces is pricey,” wrote one mom from Bruno, a small rural city in japanese Nebraska. “I’m a single mother who works full time, and my price range is already unfold so skinny. My son performs sports activities, and as a rising boy, he may virtually eat a gap by the wall; it feels prefer it by no means stops. The additional cash for meals would liberate cash for issues like payments and financial savings, and automobile upkeep.”

Pillen insisted Friday that the state would proceed to assist food-insecure youngsters by the Summer time Meals Service Program, which gives meals and snacks at numerous websites when college is just not in session. Offering on-site providers additionally permits suppliers to identify and report points like malnutrition, neglect and abuse in youngsters, he mentioned.

However critics say not all households have entry to the on-site packages – significantly in Nebraska’s huge rural stretches, the place websites might be many miles away from a struggling household.

“No child ever mentioned, ‘I wish to be born right into a household that struggles,’” mentioned Jenni Benson, president of the Nebraska State Training Affiliation – the state’s largest lecturers union. “Why would we even query that folks and kids deserve meals?”

Preston Love Jr,, a longtime group advocate in Omaha, on Friday questioned whether or not Pillen was bowing to political stress in rejecting the federal funding.

“I do know the governor just a little bit, and he appears to be an inexpensive man. He’s a person who’s compassionate in dialog,” Love mentioned. “That is out of character. So, clearly, he’s not following his coronary heart. He’s following his politics. He’s falling sufferer to political posturing, and there’s no excuse for that in terms of youngsters.”