Governor Gianforte, Montana declines millions in federal food assistance for children

HELENA, Mont. Earlier in June, the Gianforte administration, Montana announced it is opting out of $10 million of federal money that would have paid for children’s meals this year, according to an estimate from the Montana Food Bank Network.

Citing administrative burdens, a Department of Public Health and Human Services spokesperson said in a June email. The state will not participate in the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer program, or P-EBT, a program meant to be temporary for the 2022-23 school year or summer.

The decision brings the total amount of dollars to address hunger the state has left on the table to more than $135 million since 2021, according to the Montana Budget and Policy Center.

“What I’ve gathered from the state is that they don’t see the need for P-EBT,” said Jackie Semmens, with the Budget and Policy Center. “And as a parent, I’m getting emails every week from my school saying they’re doing a food drive, they’re doing a coin drive, to assist families over the summer.

The Montana Indian Caucus of Montana Legislators recently discussed this issue and many agreed that the Governor should accept this funding.

State Representative Jonathan Windy Boy, Chippewa Cree, Rocky Boy Reservation said: “This is completely outrageous. It would help low-income people across the State, especially Native Americans. There is both federal and state law which requires the Governor to hold government-government consultation with the Tribal governments about such matters, in effect since 2003, legislation carried by Windy Boy. He only uses that when it is convenient, such as mentioned in a previous veto message on two other Indian bills.  If the State does not want to be burdened with this money, I am sure the Tribes would gladly take it. We must find out if this is possible. Keep in mind, there is still a chance to change the Governor’s thinking,” Windy Boy explained.

Here are some talking points:

Governor Gianforte has said his administration won’t accept Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) that could provide $10 million in food assistance to 73,000 Montana children, and subsequently to the local economy and the 750 stores in the state that accept P-EBT. 

If the Governor fails to accept the federal funds, the state will “miss its last opportunity to use full federal funding to build a summer benefit distribution system.” 

A diverse coalition of advocates are calling on the Governor to accept this year’s P-EBT funds, including the Montana Food Bank Network, and 40 other organizations, including food banks, other nonprofits, churches, the ACLU of Montana, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and tribes.

The Governor must act soon – federal guidance requires all P-EBT benefits must be issued by Sept. 30, 2023.

We know public pressure works! The Governor dragged his feet in 2022 in accepting P-EBT funding, but after large public outcry, his administration reversed course and submitted an application. 

Windy Boy reminds: “The money will be on the table until September. If we raise enough hell and develop allies, it might be very real to get this short-sighted and selfish thinking overturned. There are kids who are not sure where their meals are going to come from this summer.”

Congress created P-EBT in March 2020 to help families whose children would have received free or reduced-price meals at school if the pandemic had not struck, and all 50 states used the program, according to the Children’s Defense Fund. The national organization said it reached as many as 12.9 million children.

Montana has received $94 million in P-EBT benefits since 2020, according to the State Budget Office.  

SNAP is the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program which stands for Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program.

Last year, after public outcry, the Health Department reversed course and applied for the funds for the 2021-22 school year, and former agency director Adam Meier then praised the federal government for being flexible with requirements.

The application made the state eligible for summer support as well, and Montana received some $27 million last year, according to an earlier estimate from the Food Bank Network.

“This program has been a valuable resource for thousands of Montana families in helping to supplement their food budgets, in a time when grocery costs continue to rise,” said Meier in a May 2022 update from the Health Department about the program.

The Health Department lists 96 schools or districts that participated last summer.

He said administrators are adamant that during the school year, it’s difficult for kids to learn if they’re hungry. He also said many districts run summer meal programs because children are vulnerable then and don’t have the same access to food through their schools.

“The insecurity happens in the summer,” Watson said.

Bruce Day, executive director for Helena Food Share, said the food bank serves roughly one in five children in the Helena area. Since the pandemic, he said the organization has seen rising need.

Day said Helena Food Share has seen an increasing number of families seeking assistance as well, 15% to 20% more every month year over year. That’s 1,500 to 1,600 families a month, or roughly 3,000 individuals.

“Since coming out of COVID, we just continue to see the numbers rise,” Day said.

In the analysis, she pointed to Gov. Greg Gianforte’s veto of a 2021 bill that would have helped SNAP recipients buy more fruits and vegetables at local farmer’s markets; the state ending a pandemic-related boost to SNAP worth $125 million to communities; the state’s decision not to apply for food assistance for children on free and reduced lunch last school year; and the tabling this legislative session of a bill that would have provided free school meals for students.

“This pattern of denial is having devastating consequences on Montana families,” the blog post said.

“This decision comes at a time when families are hurting, trying to keep up with the cost of housing, childcare, and food,” Burhop said. “The need for this program has not gone away.

“Montana’s food pantries are struggling to provide enough food for the people coming through their doors. The state’s decision to turn down these federal funds is a lost opportunity to help Montana families make ends meet and keep food on the table.”

“This issue is important to the whole State of Montana” Windy Boy said, “but is extremely important to our Native children.

Tell the Governor to accept P-EBT Funding from the federal government so Montana kids don’t go hungry. Do this ASAP! The Governor must accept the funding by the end of the Summer. 

Call the Governor’s office: 406-444-3111 or send him an email at governor.mt.gov/contact or a fax at 406-444=5529/

For additional information or guidance feel free to contact Representative Windy Boy at rep32jwb@gmail.com. “Any input from concerned citizens will be helpful.

(Contact Clara Caufield can be reached at acheyennevoice@gmail.com.

 

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