Summer EBT funding for local students totals $177 in grocery benefits

Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is updating the timeline for the Summer EBT program, noting that no action is needed by parents or students at this time. Following congressional authorization, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is implementing a new child food assistance plan in cooperation with American Samoa Government’s Department of Human and Social Services (DHSS).

“At this time, there’s no need to apply for these benefits or worry about being left out, but DHSS will send out details when the program is ready for distribution as the school semester closes out,” said Congresswoman Amata. “Thank you especially to Director Muavaefaatasi John Suisala for recognizing the opportunity to apply ahead to USDA for the important waiver releasing the territories from any matching funds. This effort is fully federally funded from the start for the territories, and American Samoa’s children and families broadly qualify based on nationwide income guidelines for the program.”

Once the program is in place at the end of the school year, Summer EBT (Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer) benefits will come in the form of pre-loaded cards that families of students can use to purchase groceries, with three monthly amounts of $59 while school is not in session, totaling $177 in grocery benefits with up to 14,000 recipients. That could total up to about $2.5 million for the 2024 program, in the form of grants from USDA to DHSS.

Notably, benefits in the territories are $19 more per month than the states. Operating under congressional authority, USDA increased the amount for families in the five island territories to $59 per child each month, accounting for differences in island costs of food shipments and territory economies, while those in the states receive $40 during each of those three months.

Summer EBT is built on the earlier Pandemic EBT program, allowing for faster implementation, and is the result of several bipartisan congressional efforts over the years and pilot projects. Congress initially authorized the program in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 (Public Law 117-328) with the 2024 launch by USDA to be funded yearly in congressional appropriations.

APPROPRIATIONS AGREEMENTS

Bipartisan passage in Congress of a bill extending government funding through a Continuing Resolution (C.R.), often described as a stopgap, was welcomed by Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata this past Friday.

This action prevented a partial government shutdown, and is in anticipation of agreements on a number of full year appropriations bills.

This is the fourth extension since fiscal year 2023, while complete appropriations for FY 2024 requires passage of 12 major bills covering the various departments and agencies. The extension now funds some departments through March 8 and some March 22, as negotiators focus on two branches of bills.

On Thursday, the Senate passed the extension 77-13, following the House earlier in the day, which passed it 320-99.

“We have some progress in reaching agreement for a group of appropriations bills, and that would be good for American Samoa along with the entire country,” said Congresswoman Amata. “Negotiations have been slow this year, but in the meantime, current funding continues.”