State takes food out of children’s mouths
Your article Jan. 15, “Food assistance for needy kids grows,” states that expanded federal benefits offer hundreds of dollars in food stamps for children. However, Florida has opted out of the summer food program for children.
This program provides food stamps to children during the summer, when children lose access to free or reduced-price cafeteria meals at schools.
Florida has a higher rate of food insecurity (11.4%) than the national average. It is shocking that Gov. Ron DeSantis is refusing this federal money to feed hungry children.
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As a result of this inaction, children who live in Florida do not get the same food assistance as children living in other states that participate in the federal program.
This, coupled with the state’s refusal to expand Medicaid under the federal Affordable Care Act, makes Florida a very unattractive state for young families.
The federal government would provide more than $5 billion in federal aid in the first two years of expansion. Subsequently, the state’s share would rise to $200 million to get $4.4 billion to expand this program.