Pulaski Times

Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Ranking Member John Boozman (R-AR) have urged U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Thomas Vilsack to address supply chain disruptions affecting the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP).

The Senators stated: “We have heard from Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs), food banks and emergency feeding organizations, state agencies, and program participants regarding delayed or cancelled food deliveries, or deliveries of expired food. These disruptions not only affect food inventory levels for the program operators but food security for tribal and senior households. As the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has acknowledged, this is unacceptable.”

FDPIR provides food to approximately 53,000 income-eligible households on tribal reservations and Native American households in approved areas, while CSFP serves about 720,000 income-eligible seniors nationwide. Both programs have recently faced significant inventory shortages and issues with delayed or expired food deliveries.

The Senators are seeking an explanation for the crisis, swift action to resolve these disruptions, and measures to prevent future occurrences.

While USDA is taking steps to provide funding and flexibilities to help communities access supplemental food quickly, more action is needed to ensure regular, on-time deliveries.

Joining Stabenow and Boozman in sending the letter were Senators Mike Braun (R-IN), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), John Cornyn (R-TX), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), John Hoeven (R-ND), James Lankford (R-OK), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Jack Reed (D-RI), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Peter Welch (D-VT) and Ron Wyden(D-OR).

The full letter from the Senators is available HERE.