Texas Should Accept Federal Dollars to Feed Hungry Children This Summer

This UnidosUS report examines Texas’s decision to reject $450 million in federal funding for the 2024 Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (Summer EBT) program, which provides $120 per child to families for groceries during the summer when school meals are unavailable. Over 1.3 million Texas children experience hunger during summer, with Latino children disproportionately affected, making up 52% of those without enough to eat.
The report highlights the health and economic consequences of Texas’s choice, including increased child health risks and a significant economic downturn due to reduced consumer spending. It also details how Texas’s budget surplus and unspent federal funds could easily cover the program’s administrative costs, enabling the state to claim these critical federal dollars.
UnidosUS calls for immediate action from Texas leaders, urging them to implement Summer EBT in 2025 by completing necessary federal filings, leveraging federal grants to modernize administrative systems and allocating a fraction of the state’s surplus to reduce costs. Accepting federal funding could alleviate child hunger, support local businesses and address the state’s high grocery prices.
Download the full report to learn how Texas can combat childhood hunger and support its communities.
unidosus_texasshouldnowacceptfederaldollarstofeedhungrychildrennextsummer.pdf