(The Center Square) — Arkansas is joining other states in participating in a federally-funded summer feeding program for children rejected by other states.

The summer nutrition assistance program, or Summer EBT, provides families eligible for the national school lunch program $120 per month for each child.

The program was rejected by some states, including Iowa and Nebraska.

“Making sure no Arkansan goes hungry, especially children, is a top concern for my administration,” Sanders said. “We are leveraging every resource at our disposal to fight this crisis, and Summer EBT promises to be an important new tool to give Arkansas children the food and nutrition they need.”

U.S. Rep. John Boozman, R-Ark., said he is pleased Arkansas is participating in the program.

“Nutrition is critical to the ability of youth to thrive in and out of the classroom,” Boozman said. “My colleagues and I dedicated a lot of time and effort toward modernizing the outdated summer meals program with the help of Natural State nutrition advocates to ensure it serves more children in need by offering states multiple options — including a summer EBT program — to help tackle this challenge.”

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said the program does not help meet a child’s nutritional needs.

“An EBT card does nothing to promote nutrition at a time when childhood obesity has become an epidemic,” Reynolds said. “If the Biden administration and Congress want to make a real commitment to family well-being, they should invest in already existing programs and infrastructure at the state level and give us the flexibility to tailor them to our state’s needs.”

The program began during the COVID-19 pandemic and was approved permanently approved by Congress in the Consolidated Appropriations Act last year. States, tribes and terrorities can participate in the program.

The United States Department of Agriculture oversees the program and anticipates having a complete list of participants early this year.