Sen. Ossoff Urges Gov. Kemp to Reverse Course, Accept Summer School Lunch Funding for Georgia Children in 2025

For months, Governor Brian Kemp has faced backlash for refusing tens of millions of dollars to help Georgia children and their families afford lunch during the summer months. Today, U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is calling on the Governor to change course and accept Federal funds to ensure Georgia children don’t go hungry.

This week, Sen. Ossoff and members of Georgia’s Congressional Delegation urged Gov. Kemp to reverse course and apply for next year’s program so that Georgia children don’t go hungry and can receive meals during the summer of 2025.

Gov. Kemp has until next Thursday, August 15, 2024, to submit initials plans to the USDA for next summer’s program.

“Committing to participate in Summer EBT in 2025 is a simple, commonsense step that will ensure that every child in our state, regardless of where they live, has access to food when they need it most,” Sen. Ossoff and the group wrote. “States that refuse to participate in Summer EBT for unsubstantiated reasons are needlessly putting children in jeopardy during the summer months.”

According to a reportThis is an external link by the Food and Research Action Center, there are almost 1.2 million low-income children in Georgia who are automatically eligible for this benefit but cannot participate due to Gov. Kemp’s decision to opt out of the program.

The letter is also signed by Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock and Representatives Lucy McBath (GA-07), Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Nikema Williams (GA-05), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), and David Scott (GA-13).

Sen. Ossoff and the Georgia Congressional Delegation’s letter can be found hereThis is an external link.