House Appropriations Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Ranking Member Chellie Pingree joined leaders on the House and Senate Appropriations Committees in pressing for answers from U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack regarding failures under its Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), which have inflicted a dire food shortage crisis on our nation’s Tribes. The lawmakers also raised concerns about similar potential issues with the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CFSP), and requested comprehensive information to understand the origins of this alarming situation and implement action to ensure it is resolved expeditiously.
Members who signed the letter include House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole (R-Okla), Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn), Agriculture Subcommittee Chairman Andy Harris (R-Md.), Agriculture Subcommittee Ranking Member Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.), Interior Subcommittee Chairman Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), Senate Appropriations Chair Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Senate Appropriations Vice Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine), Senate Agriculture Subcommittee Chair Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), and Senate Agriculture Subcommittee Ranking Member John Hoeven (R-N.D.).
The lawmakers wrote, “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 a vital nutrition initiative that serves Native American households in need, with more than 50,000 people relying on it for food each month. Delayed, incomplete, and missing deliveries skyrocketed after the USDA made the decision to switch to a single contractor with only one warehouse to distribute food nationwide. Food shortages for Tribal communities have become prevalent, and similar issues are now also impacting America’s seniors who rely on the Commodity Supplemental Food Program. These disruptions to vital safety net programs are unacceptable and fail to uphold our trust and treaty obligations. Given the severity of the situation, the lawmakers have required that all questions be answered and relevant documentation provided by September 9th. Further, Chairman Cole, the first Native American to serve as Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and member of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma, is also planning to hold a hearing on the matter to ensure further oversight and accountability. Tribes’ voices have been heard and will continue to be at the forefront as Congress further investigates this crisis.
Read the full bicameral and bipartisan letter here.
Pingree is also a member of the House Agriculture Committee and the House Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittee.
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