The Senate Concurrent Resolution urges Governor Jeffrey M. Landry to apply for federal funding to implement the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (Summer EBT) program in Louisiana. This program, established by a bipartisan Congress in December 2022, aims to provide nutrition assistance to low-income families with school-age children during the summer months when school meals are not available. The Summer EBT program offers pre-loaded cards with $40 per eligible child per month, helping to alleviate summer hunger for over 30 million children nationwide. The resolution highlights the importance of this program in conjunction with other nutrition assistance initiatives, emphasizing its potential to improve child health and support local economies.

Despite the benefits of the Summer EBT program, the Louisiana Department of Education declined to administer it, and Governor Landry announced the state would not accept $70 million in federal funding for summer meals. The resolution calls on the Governor to prioritize the nutritional needs of Louisiana's children and to take action to secure the necessary funding for the Summer EBT program, which has been successfully adopted by over 40 states and territories. The resolution concludes by requesting that a copy be sent to Governor Landry to encourage his support for this initiative.