119-hr2236

[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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