[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2236 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2236
To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out a demonstration
project to allow Tribal entities to purchase agricultural commodities
under the commodity supplemental food program, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 18, 2025
Mr. Vasquez introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Agriculture
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out a demonstration
project to allow Tribal entities to purchase agricultural commodities
under the commodity supplemental food program, and for other purposes.
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 ``Healthy Foods for Native Seniors
Act''.
SEC. 2. COMMODITY SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD PROGRAM DEMONSTRATION PROJECT FOR
TRIBAL ORGANIZATIONS.
(a) Demonstration Project for Tribal Organizations.--
(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
(A) Demonstration project.--The term
``demonstration project'' means the demonstration
project established under paragraph (2).
(B) Food distribution program.--The term ``food
distribution program'' means the commodity supplemental
food program under section 4 of the Agriculture and
Consumer Protection Act of 1973 (7 U.S.C. 612c note).
(C) Indian reservation.--The term ``Indian
reservation'' has the meaning given the term
``reservation'' in section 3 of the Food and Nutrition
Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2012).
(D) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' has
the meaning given such term in section 4 of the Indian
Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25
U.S.C. 5304).
(E) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the
Secretary of Agriculture.
(F) Self-determination contract.--The term ``self-
determination contract'' has the meaning given such
term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and
Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304) with
modification as determined by the Secretary.
(G) Tribal entity.--The term ``Tribal entity''
means--
(i) an Indian reservation;
(ii) an Indian Tribe; and
(iii) a Tribal organization.
(H) Tribal organization.--The term ``Tribal
organization'' has the meaning given such term in
section 3 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7
U.S.C. 2012).
(2) Establishment.--Subject to the availability of
appropriations, the Secretary shall establish a demonstration
project under which 1 or more Tribal entities may enter into
self-determination contracts to purchase agricultural
commodities under the food distribution program for the Indian
reservation of that Tribal entity.
(3) Eligibility.--
(A) Consultation.--The Secretary shall consult with
Tribal entities to determine the process under which
each entity may participate in the demonstration
project.
(B) Criteria.--The Secretary shall select for
participation in the demonstration project Tribal
entities that--
(i) are successfully administering the food
distribution program of the Tribal entity;
(ii) have the capacity to purchase
agricultural commodities in accordance with
paragraph (4) for the food distribution program
of the Tribal entity; and
(iii) meet any other criteria determined by
the Secretary, in consultation with the
Secretary of the Interior and Tribal entities.
(4) Procurement of agricultural commodities.--Any
agricultural commodities purchased by a Tribal entity under the
demonstration project shall--
(A) be domestically produced;
(B) not result in a material increase in the amount
of food in the food package of that Tribal entity
compared to the amount of food that the Secretary
authorized to be provided through the CSFP Guide Rate;
(C) be of similar or higher nutritional value as
the type of agricultural commodities that would be
supplanted in the existing food package for that Tribal
entity or be an agricultural commodity with Tribal
significance to that Tribal entity; and
(D) meet any other criteria determined by the
Secretary.
(5) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date on which
funds are appropriated under paragraph (6), 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 under the demonstration
project during the preceding year.
(6) Funding.--
(A) Authorization of appropriations.--There is
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry
out this subsection $5,000,000, to remain available
until expended.
(B) Appropriations in advance.--With respect to any
funds made available under subparagraph (A), only funds
appropriated in advance specifically to carry out this
subsection shall be available to carry out this
subsection.
(b) Administration of Tribal Self-Determination Contracts.--
(1) Administration.--The Secretary shall appoint an
existing office of the Department of Agriculture to administer
Tribal self-determination contracts, including--
(A) awarding of FNS nutrition program self-
determination contracts to selected Tribal entities;
and
(B) hiring contract officers and program staff in
order to manage the selection of Tribal entities and
execution of self-determination contracts.
(2) Staffing minimum funding.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, there is authorized to be appropriated to the
Secretary $1,200,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2029
for the payment of Department contract officers and program
staff salaries and benefits.
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