Congressmen Cohen and Cooper Urge Governor Lee to Help Eligible Families Receive Food Assistance
Leaving $60 million for children and families uncommitted is unacceptable
MEMPHIS – Congressmen Steve Cohen (TN-09) and Jim Cooper (TN-05) today wrote to Tennessee Governor Bill Lee expressing their concern that the state has placed obstacles in the way of families eligible for food assistance and other benefits available through the Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) program, and potentially forfeiting $60 million in federal funds devoted to the program.
The letter reads in part:
"While the majority of states around the country have waived this application process and already sent P-EBT cards directly to families whose children receive reduced-price meals, Tennessee is surprisingly and disappointingly requiring families to take extra steps to apply for P-EBT by August 14, though the USDA has set a deadline of September 30 to distribute the funds.
"According to a recent article in The Commercial Appeal, this process has prevented thousands of families from receiving their rightfully deserved benefits. It was stated, ‘Due to challenges the state has faced getting the parents of all 388,000 children who aren't on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or TANF but are on reduced lunch to apply for the P-EBT program, Tennessee is on track to leave roughly $60 million in federal funds on the table."
Read the entire letter here.