Sponsors (4)
Official title: To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into self-determination contracts and self-governance agreements with Indian entities to administer the food distribution program on Indian reservations.
Introduced June 12, 2025 by Sharice Davids · Last progress June 12, 2025
The bill substantially strengthens tribal self-governance, local control, and culturally appropriate food choices in federal nutrition programs, but those gains come with risks of service interruptions, higher costs, and added negotiation/administrative burdens as demonstrations end and agreements are renegotiated.
Tribal governments and Indian entities gain stronger legal control over USDA agreements and food programs, requiring use of ISDEAA rules and negotiated consent for adaptations.
Tribes can purchase and directly administer FDPIR commodities locally, increasing tribal control over program delivery and decision-making for food assistance.
Tribes may select foods of Tribal significance or nutritionally similar items, enabling more culturally appropriate and potentially more nutritious food choices for program participants.
Tribal communities risk losing demonstration project benefits, tailored flexibilities, and program continuity once demonstration authorities and related contracts expire, creating potential service gaps.
Negotiation, consultation, and consent requirements (and resolving disagreements) can delay program changes or implementation, increasing administrative burden for Tribes and USDA and slowing service delivery.
Requirements that purchased commodities be domestically produced and the need to restructure program delivery to meet ISDEAA rules could raise costs for Tribes and increase federal/taxpayer expenditures.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Allows tribes to use ISDEAA self-determination/self-governance agreements to purchase commodities and administer FDPIR activities, with reporting and commodity limits.
Allows Indian Tribes and Tribal Organizations to use self-determination contracts or self-governance funding agreements to buy and administer foods and related FDPIR activities on reservations under adapted Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act authorities. Sets limits on what foods can be purchased, requires tribal consultation and reporting to Congress, and ends existing FDPIR demonstration projects once all tribal demonstration contracts expire.