Bill Summary
The "Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) Act of 2025" aims to amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 by enabling the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into self-determination contracts and self-governance agreements with Indian entities, such as Indian Tribes and Tribal Organizations. This legislation is designed to empower these entities to administer the food distribution program on their reservations, allowing for greater autonomy in managing food resources.
Key provisions include:
1. **Eligibility and Definition**: The Act defines "Indian entity" and establishes criteria for eligibility based on existing Indian self-determination laws, presuming that Indian entities meeting these criteria can administer food distribution programs.
2. **Administration and Negotiation**: The Secretary of Agriculture is tasked with negotiating contracts that allow Indian entities to purchase agricultural commodities for their food distribution programs, ensuring that the commodities are domestically produced and nutritionally adequate.
3. **Reporting**: The Secretary must report annually to Congress on the activities undertaken by Indian entities under these agreements.
4. **Governance**: The Act stipulates that all agreements will be governed by the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, ensuring that the administration of these contracts is flexible and tailored to the needs of the Indian entities.
5. **Termination of Previous Programs**: The Act also terminates certain demonstration projects established under previous legislation, streamlining the management of food distribution on Indian reservations.
Overall, this legislation seeks to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of food distribution programs on Indian reservations by fostering self-governance and local management.
Possible Impacts
The "Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) Act of 2025" introduces several changes that could significantly affect individuals and communities on Indian reservations. Here are three examples of how this legislation may impact people:
1. **Empowerment of Tribal Governments**: By allowing Indian entities to enter into self-determination contracts and self-governance agreements, the legislation empowers tribal governments to manage their own food distribution programs. This can lead to more culturally appropriate and relevant food options that meet the specific nutritional needs of the community and reflect their traditions. Such empowerment can foster a sense of autonomy and self-governance among tribal members, enhancing community pride and identity.
2. **Increased Access to Nutritious Food**: The provision that agricultural commodities purchased by Indian entities must be domestically produced and of similar or higher nutritional value than existing food packages can potentially improve the quality of food available to individuals on reservations. This means that tribal communities might gain access to fresher and healthier food options, which can contribute to better overall health outcomes and help address issues such as food insecurity and nutrition-related diseases prevalent in many Indigenous populations.
3. **Economic Opportunities for Local Farmers**: The requirement for agricultural commodities to be domestically produced could create economic opportunities for local farmers and tribal producers. By purchasing food from local sources, tribes can support their own economies, create jobs, and foster sustainable agricultural practices. This can lead to a more resilient local food system, reducing dependency on external suppliers and enhancing food sovereignty within the community.
Overall, these changes aim to enhance the food sovereignty of Indian reservations, improve food access, and promote economic self-sufficiency.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3956 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3956
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.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 12, 2025
Ms. Davids of Kansas (for herself and Mr. Lucas) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
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.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Food Distribution Program on Indian
Reservations (FDPIR) Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM ON INDIAN RESERVATIONS UNDER SELF-
DETERMINATION CONTRACTS AND SELF-GOVERNANCE AGREEMENTS.
Section 4(b) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C.
2013(b)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraph (7) as paragraph (8); and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following:
``(7) Self determination contracts and self-governance
agreements for indian entities.--
``(A) Definitions.--In this paragraph:
``(i) Indian entity.--The term `Indian
entity' means Indian Tribes and Tribal
Organizations given the terms in section 4 of
the Indian Self-Determination and Education
Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
``(ii) Self-determination contract and
self-governance agreement.--The terms `self-
determination contract' and `self-governance
funding agreement' has the meaning given the
term in section 4 and section 401 of the Indian
Self-Determination and Education Assistance
Act.
``(B) Establishment.--At the request of an Indian
entity, the Secretary shall negotiate and enter into
self-determination contracts or self-governance
agreements to purchase agricultural commodities under
the food distribution program under this subsection for
the Indian reservation of that Indian entity and to
administer programs, functions, services, or activities
(or portions thereof) related to the operations of the
food distribution program of that Indian entity.
``(C) Eligibility.--
``(i) Criteria.--The Secretary shall
presume an Indian entity is eligible to
purchase agricultural commodities and assume
the administration of a food distribution
program on the Indian reservation of that
Indian entity under section 4(b)(7) if the
Indian entity meets the eligibility
requirements in title I or IV of the Indian
Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act
of 1975.
``(ii) Consultation.--The Secretary shall
consult with the Indian Tribes to determine the
process under which a Tribal organization may
participate.
``(D) Purchase of agricultural commodities.--Any
agricultural commodities purchased by a Indian entity
under the subsection shall--
``(i) be domestically produced;
``(ii) shall not result in a material
increase or decrease in the total amount of
food in the food package of that Indian entity
compared to the amount of food the Secretary
authorizes to be provided through the FDPIR
Guide Rate; and
``(iii) be of similar or higher nutritional
value as the type of agricultural commodities
that would be supplanted in the existing food
package for that Indian entity or be an
agricultural commodity with Tribal significance
to that Indian entity.
``(E) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the
effective date of this paragraph and annually
thereafter, the Secretary shall submit, to the
Committee on Agriculture of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture,
Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate, a report
describing the activities carried out by Indian
entities under self-determination contracts and self-
governance agreements during the preceding year.''.
SEC. 3. APPLICATION OF GOVERNING LAW.
The negotiation, execution, and flexible administration of all
self-determination or self-governance agreements authorized under this
paragraph (7) shall be governed by the requirements of title I with
respect to self-determination agreements, or title IV with respect to
self-governance agreements, of the Indian Self-Determination and
Education Assistance Act of 1975 and the regulations duly promulgated
thereunder by the Department of the Interior. The application of such
statutory and regulatory provisions shall be adapted to the Department
of Agriculture programs, functions, services, and activities only with
the negotiated consent of the Indian entity affected, on a case by case
basis. All such adaptations shall adhere to the rule of construction in
section 406(i) of such Act (25 U.S.C. 5366(i)) that each provision
shall be liberally construed for the benefit of the Indian entity and
any ambiguity shall be resolved in factor of the Indian entity.
SEC. 4. TERMINATION OF DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.
Demonstration projects under section 4003(b) of the Agriculture
Improvement Act of 2018 (7 U.S.C. 2013 note) shall cease to be
effective beginning on the date following the end of the period of
performance for all Tribes holding contracts under such section.
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