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Allows Indian Tribes and Tribal Organizations to take over operation of the on‑reservation Food Distribution Program by requesting self‑determination contracts or self‑governance agreements with USDA. It requires USDA to negotiate and enter agreements at an Indian entity's request, sets eligibility and commodity purchase limits, and requires an annual report to Congress on activities. Aligns these USDA agreements with the Indian Self‑Determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDEAA) and Department of the Interior regulations, requiring case‑by‑case negotiated adaptations that must be interpreted in favor of the Indian entity. It also ends certain Agriculture Improvement Act demonstration projects once all tribal contract performance periods under those demos have expired.
Amend Section 4(b) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2013(b)) by redesignating paragraph (7) as paragraph (8) and inserting a new paragraph (7) after paragraph (6).
Defines 'Indian entity' to mean Indian Tribes and Tribal Organizations as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
States that the terms 'self-determination contract' and 'self-governance agreement' have the meanings given in section 4 and section 401 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act.
At the request of an Indian entity, the Secretary must negotiate and enter into self-determination contracts or self-governance agreements so the Indian entity can purchase agricultural commodities under the food distribution program and administer program operations (or parts of them) for its reservation.
The Secretary shall presume an Indian entity is eligible to purchase agricultural commodities and assume administration of the food distribution program on its reservation if the Indian entity meets the eligibility requirements in title I or IV of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975.
Primary affected parties are Indian Tribes, Tribal Organizations, and Tribal Communities: they gain a formal option to operate the on‑reservation Food Distribution Program, increasing local control over food procurement and distribution, menu/commodity choices (within statutory limits), and program design. Tribal entities that choose to assume operation will need administrative capacity, procurement systems, and staff to meet program requirements. Program participants (tribal households and families on reservations) may see services tailored to local needs and potentially faster or culturally relevant delivery.
USDA (and relevant program offices) must negotiate agreements, adapt program administrative rules, and provide oversight and annual reporting to Congress; this will shift some operational responsibilities from USDA to tribal operators. The requirement that ISDEAA rules and DOI regulations apply — with case‑by‑case negotiated adaptations favoring tribes — strengthens tribal authority but may require detailed legal and administrative work to implement adaptations that fit USDA program specifics.
Entities involved in the 2018 demonstration projects will be affected by the automatic termination rule: those demos will end not on a fixed date but when every tribal contract under the demo completes its period of performance. This could extend or shorten the effective life of a demo depending on individual contract timelines and may require transition planning to avoid service interruptions.
Overall effects: increased tribal self‑governance and program tailoring; administrative transition costs and capacity needs for tribes and USDA; potential improvements in culturally appropriate food access for tribal beneficiaries; and removal of older demo authorities once the final tribal contracts lapse.
Last progress June 12, 2025 (8 months ago)
Introduced on June 12, 2025 by Sharice Davids
Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.