Tallahassee, Fla. — Today, Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried urged Governor Ron DeSantis to instruct the Florida Department of Children and Families to immediately begin the application process for the federal funding that is available for the 2021-2022 school year through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program.
“Because Florida was one of the last states in the country to apply for the summer P-EBT program, families in our state have already endured months of delays in receiving this federal aid to help feed their children,” Commissioner Fried wrote in a letter to Governor DeSantis. “It is imperative for the health and wellness of millions of Florida children that your administration does not create any additional unnecessary delays in applying for the funding that is now available for the current school year.”
“While I am relieved that your administration finally applied for this funding following weeks of unnecessary delays, the application period for the 2021-2022 school year has been open for over a month now with no indication from your administration when – or even if – it will apply,” she continued. “Every additional dollar in aid can help to alleviate child hunger, which is why it is imperative that your administration apply for this funding as soon as possible.”
Last month, the Florida Department of Children and Families submitted an application for the summer P-EBT funding after weeks of calls from Commissioner Fried and anti-hunger advocates across the state. That funding — which provides retroactive, supplemental nutrition aid for the summer — will begin to be distributed next month.
The full letter can be found below.
The Honorable Ron DeSantis
Governor
The Capitol
400 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001
October 5, 2021
Governor DeSantis,
I am writing to formally request that your administration immediately begin the application process for the federal funding that is available for the 2021-2022 school year through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program, given the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) is the state agency responsible for both the application and administration of this supplemental child nutrition program.
Because Florida was one of the last states in the country to apply for the summer P-EBT program, families in our state have already endured months of delays in receiving this federal aid to help feed their children. It is imperative for the health and wellness of millions of Florida children that your administration does not create any additional unnecessary delays in applying for the funding that is now available for the current school year.
During the 2020-2021 school year, the P-EBT program delivered more than $1 billion in crucial food assistance to low-income families in Florida. The summer P-EBT program will provide an additional $1 billion to our state and $375 per child for eligible families to retroactively receive supplemental aid designed to lessen the impact of new nutritional challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. An estimated 2.7 million children will benefit from the summer program when it is rolled out next month. While I am relieved that your administration finally applied for this funding following weeks of unnecessary delays, the application period for the 2021-2022 school year has been open for over a month now with no indication from your administration when – or even if – it will apply.
There is no question as to the necessity of this federal nutrition assistance: according to the organization No Kid Hungry, more than 1 in 5 children in Florida live in a “food insecure” home while 55% of children in Florida are either living in or near poverty. Every additional dollar in aid can help to alleviate child hunger, which is why it is imperative that your administration apply for this funding as soon as possible.
Please know that if the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) were able to apply for this critical supplemental child nutrition program funding, I would have instructed my Department to do so immediately. Given P-EBT program administration and authority lies with DCF, know that our Division of Food, Nutrition, and Wellness is willing to provide any assistance your administration may need to complete and submit the application for the 2021-2022 P-EBT funding.
Sincerely,
Nicole Fried
Commissioner of Agriculture
