{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=842BFC11-751C-4FA1-A38B-A9B8EBE2F029", "Fischer, Smith Introduce Bill to Ensure Tribal Voices are Prioritized in Federal Nutrition Decisions", "2025-11-20", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "NE", "Deb Fischer", "F000463", "www.fischer.senate.gov", "fischer", "https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "Bill strengthens USDA response to low-income, elderly food assistance programs if disruptions occur\n\nToday, U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Tina Smith (D-MN) introduced the Increasing Tribal Input on Nutrition Act. This bipartisan legislation will ensure the federal government does not make decisions about the nutrition assistance programs Tribes rely on without their input.\n\nIn 2024, a contracting decision made by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) left many Tribes \u2014 including the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska \u2014 with delayed, incomplete, and expired food deliveries. This resulted in significant food shortages for several months.\n\nThe Increasing Tribal Input on Nutrition Act would prevent future food shortages by requiring the USDA to incorporate Tribal input in contracting decisions. It would also strengthen the USDA\u2019s emergency response during disruptions and encourage meaningful Tribal consultation on nutrition programs at the state level.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m pleased to introduce this bill to ensure that those who rely on food assistance programs in Tribal communities \u2014 including the elderly and low-income \u2014 are not impacted by federal government missteps. The Increasing Tribal Input on Nutrition Act ensures that Tribal voices are at the table from the start and strengthens USDA\u2019s response if disruptions occur,\u201d Fischer said.\n\n\u201cTribal governments understand what works best for their communities, and they should have control over how they feed their members. Our bill makes an important fix that allows Tribes to get food assistance to those who need it most and provides the tools to prevent any future disruptions in the food supply chain,\u201d Smith said.\n\n\u201cLast year\u2019s FDPIR supply chain disruptions had a profound impact on something most of us take for granted \u2014 the ability to put food on the dinner table. The Increasing Tribal Input on Nutrition Act of 2025 would help ensure food security for FDPIR participants during supply chain disruptions. The Winnebago Tribe appreciates Senator Fischer\u2019s leadership in addressing this issue and we look forward to working together to advance the legislation,\u201d said Winnebago Chairman Coly Brown.\n\n\u201cThe Native Farm Bill Coalition commends Senator Fisher and Senator Smith for introducing theIncreasing Tribal Input on Nutrition Act. As we have witnessed in recent years, FDPIR warehouse disruptions have devastating and lasting impacts in Indian Country, where one in four Tribal citizens experience food insecurity, but this bill is an important step to ensure USDA has the authority it needs to utilize federal resources to resolve disruptions to the Food Disruption Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) and provide immediate relief, including payments to Tribes to purchase food when USDA cannot due to government shutdowns, warehouse vendors, or other supply chain disruptions,\u201d said Native Farm Bill Coalition co-chairs Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Chairman Cole Miller and CEO of the Intertribal Agriculture Council Kari Jo Lawrence.\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nThe Increasing Tribal Input on Nutrition Act would:\n\nRequire USDA to include Tribal representatives in reviewing and awarding contracts under the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR).\n\nFDPIR provides income-eligible households with food on Indian reservations. Many households participate in FDPIR as an alternative to SNAP.\n\nDirect USDA to designate an emergency contractor within 45 days of any supply chain disruption under FDPIR or Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP).\n\nCSFP is targeted at low-income elderly persons 60 years or older and distributes both food and administrative funds to participating states and Tribes.\n\nAllow USDA to provide direct payments to Tribes to purchase food themselves during an FDPIR disruption.\n\nEncourage states to conduct Tribal consultation before amending CSFP State Plans.\n\nDirect USDA to support this work through cooperative agreements or technical assistance.\n\nClick here to read the text of the bill.\n\nToday, U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Tina Smith (D-MN) introduced theIncreasing Tribal Input on Nutrition Act. This bipartisan legislation will ensure the federal government does not make decisions about the nutrition assistance programs Tribes rely on without their input.\n\nIn 2024, a contracting decision made by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) left many Tribes \u2014 including the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska \u2014 with delayed, incomplete, and expired food deliveries. This resulted in significant food shortages for several months.\n\nTheIncreasing Tribal Input on Nutrition Act would prevent future food shortages by requiring the USDA to incorporate Tribal input in contracting decisions. It would also strengthen the USDA\u2019s emergency response during disruptions and encourage meaningful Tribal consultation on nutrition programs at the state level.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m pleased to introduce this bill to ensure that those who rely on food assistance programs in Tribal communities \u2014 including the elderly and low-income \u2014 are not impacted by federal government missteps. TheIncreasing Tribal Input on Nutrition Actensures that Tribal voices are at the table from the start and strengthens USDA\u2019s response if disruptions occur,\u201dFischer said.\n\n\u201cTribal governments understand what works best for their communities, and they should have control over how they feed their members. Our bill makes an important fix that allows Tribes to get food assistance to those who need it most and provides the tools to prevent any future disruptions in the food supply chain,\u201dSmith said.\n\n\u201cLast year\u2019s FDPIR supply chain disruptions had a profound impact on something most of us take for granted \u2014 the ability to put food on the dinner table. TheIncreasing Tribal Input on Nutrition Act of 2025 would help ensure food security for FDPIR participants during supply chain disruptions. The Winnebago Tribe appreciates Senator Fischer\u2019s leadership in addressing this issue and we look forward to working together to advance the legislation,\u201dsaid Winnebago Chairman Coly Brown.\n\n\u201cThe Native Farm Bill Coalition commends Senator Fisher and Senator Smith for introducing theIncreasing Tribal Input on Nutrition Act.As we have witnessed in recent years, FDPIR warehouse disruptions have devastating and lasting impacts in Indian Country, where one in four Tribal citizens experience food insecurity, but this bill is an important step to ensure USDA has the authority it needs to utilize federal resources to resolve disruptions to the Food Disruption Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) and provide immediate relief, including payments to Tribes to purchase food when USDA cannot due to government shutdowns, warehouse vendors, or other supply chain disruptions,\u201dsaid Native Farm Bill Coalition co-chairs Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Chairman Cole Miller and CEO of the Intertribal Agriculture Council Kari Jo Lawrence.\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nTheIncreasing Tribal Input on Nutrition Act would:\n\nRequire USDA to include Tribal representatives in reviewing and awarding contracts under the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR).\n\nFDPIR provides income-eligible households with food on Indian reservations. Many households participate in FDPIR as an alternative to SNAP.\n\nDirect USDA to designate an emergency contractor within 45 days of any supply chain disruption under FDPIR or Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP).\n\nCSFP is targeted at low-income elderly persons 60 years or older and distributes both food and administrative funds to participating states and Tribes.\n\nAllow USDA to provide direct payments to Tribes to purchase food themselves during an FDPIR disruption.\n\nEncourage states to conduct Tribal consultation before amending CSFP State Plans.\n\nDirect USDA to support this work through cooperative agreements or technical assistance.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=842BFC11-751C-4FA1-A38B-A9B8EBE2F029"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.7627088818699121, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}