MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama was one of 14 states that declined to participate in a federal program that gives summer food assistance to low-income families with school age children, prompting advocates on Wednesday to urge lawmakes to reverse course and join the program.
At a public hearing on the proposed education budget, several organizations urged legislators to set aside funding for Alabama to participate in 2025.
“Every child deserves the chance to grow learn and dream without the burden of hunger weighing them down,” Rhonda Mann, executive director of VOICES for Alabama’s Children told the Finance and Taxation-Education Committee.
The program called Summer EBT, or Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program, provides families $40 per month for each child receiving free and reduced-price school lunches. That would be about $120 to spend on groceries over the summer break. The program is intended to augment existing summer meal sites to help combat food insecurity in the summer months.
Wednesday casts Thandiwe Newton in highly
Top legislature to review bills on patriotic education, safeguarding national secrets
Kingsley Coman adds to Bayern Munich injury list and a doubt for Champions League match
China regulates terrorist cases handling procedures in accordance with law: white paper
Queen Maxima of the Netherlands braves the wind in a very eye
Taiwan official calls for more exchanges
Xi uses metaphor to stress rarity of ceramics
Katie Price reveals moment doctor told her Harvey was blind and then left her in 'limbo'
Dairy cattle must be tested for bird flu before moving between states, agriculture officials say
Kevin Durant scores 28 points, Jusuf Nurkic makes late free throw as Suns beat Kings 108
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
Former president of Bank of China expelled from CPC