House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK), alongside leaders from the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, has called for answers from U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack regarding significant shortcomings in the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR). These issues have led to a severe food shortage crisis affecting Tribal communities across the nation. The lawmakers are seeking detailed information to understand the causes of this situation and implement swift corrective measures.
Signatories of the letter include Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Agriculture Subcommittee Chairman Andy Harris (R-MD), Agriculture Subcommittee Ranking Member Sanford Bishop (D-GA), Interior Subcommittee Chairman Mike Simpson (R-ID), Interior Subcommittee Ranking Member Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Senate Appropriations Chair Patty Murray (D-WA), Senate Appropriations Vice Chair Susan Collins (R-ME), Senate Agriculture Subcommittee Chair Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and Senate Agriculture Subcommittee Ranking Member John Hoeven (R-ND).
The lawmakers stated, “As Members of both chambers of Congress and leaders of the Committees and Subcommittees on Appropriations, we are alarmed to only recently have learned about the food shortage crisis that has been inflicted upon our nation’s Tribes. We were made aware of this issue from Tribes across the country, who are now in a dire situation because of a failure to ensure food has been received by Tribes in a timely manner through the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR). The program serves some of the most vulnerable people in our country, and recipients have reported bare shelves, having received expired food items, and inconsistent food deliveries for over four months. Tribes are deeply worried about when food will arrive and when USDA will resolve this situation. It is the federal government’s responsibility to uphold its trust and treaty obligations to Tribes, and this situation must be resolved immediately. We have also been alerted to similar potential issues with the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP). As you know, seniors rely on this supplemental food, and any delay is unacceptable.”
The FDPIR is an essential nutrition initiative serving Native American households in need, with more than 50,000 individuals depending on it monthly. Problems escalated after the USDA decided to switch to a single contractor using one warehouse for nationwide distribution. This change has resulted in prevalent food shortages within Tribal communities. Similar disruptions are now affecting seniors reliant on the Commodity Supplemental Food Program.
Given these critical issues, lawmakers have requested responses and relevant documentation by September 9th. Additionally, Chairman Cole—who is notably the first Native American serving as Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and a member of the Chickasaw Nation—is planning a hearing to ensure further oversight and accountability.
