USDA using $11 million of CCC Funds for emergency food purchases, other solutions
Tribes across the country are experiencing severe delays in shipments of food procured by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) and Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP). These delays have resulted in a real crisis, with more than 100 Tribal FDPIR and CSFP warehouses running short of food while waiting for promised deliveries.
To address this crisis, the USDA has presented four short-term solutions:
Providing Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funds to FDPIR agencies for emergency food purchases: USDA is using at least $11 million of CCC funds to allow FDPIR and CSFP programs to buy food themselves. The funds distributed to each agency will be based on the number of participants the Indian Tribal Organization (ITO) serves, and additional funding will be available to the FDPIR and CSFP programs with the most urgent food needs. The funding may only be used to purchase domestically grown and produced foods, leaving ITOs on international borders with challenges procuring food items in their immediate area. USDA promised technical assistance to those Tribes who run into these issues. To receive the CCC funds, Tribes must sign the agreement in Attachment C of guidance published by USDA.
Temporarily expanding the USDA Department of Defense Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program (USDA DoD Fresh): Through a partnership with the Department of Defense’s Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), the USDA is working to expand the USDA DoD Fresh Program vendor network to include food items such as meats, grains and dairy for distribution to a limited number of FDPIR sites experiencing severe inventory shortages. Currently, only a limited number of Tribes are eligible for this solution but USDA said it hopes to expand its use.
Activating the Emergency Feeding Network with Situations of Distress: USDA is encouraging state agencies that operate The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) to work with local partners such as food banks to distribute food to FDPIR and CSFP sites. It remains unclear how this option can be utilized should a state decline to issue a situation of distress, though USDA is serving as a liaison between the state agency and Tribes who attempt to utilize this measure.
Leveraging the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA): Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) agreements allow state and Tribal governments to procure and distribute foods that are unique to their geographic areas and dietary needs and preferences. USDA has authorized the use of LFPA funds to purchase food to address immediate needs while USDA works to resolve the delays. However, USDA has stated that any LFPA funds used for the procurement of foods to supplement FDPIR and CSFP will not be reimbursed. Because LFPA funds reallocated for FDPIR procurement efforts are ineligible for reimbursement, Tribes are cautioned in utilizing that option.
While the NFBC appreciates the solutions finally put forward by USDA, these are only short-term. The NFBC is working closely with USDA, Congress, the National Association of Food Distribution Programs on Indian Reservations (NAFDPIR), and NFBC members to secure a long-term solution that ensures Tribes consistently receive FDPIR and CSFP food deliveries they need to promote the wellbeing of their members.
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