Cortez Masto, Murray Introduce Legislation to Expand Food Assistance for Tribal Households in Nevada and Across the Country

Tribal communities suffer disproportionately from food insecurity; new legislation would dramatically increase nutrition assistance for individuals eligible for both SNAP and the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) introduced legislation that would expand nutrition assistance to Tribal families by allowing individuals who are eligible for both Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) to use both programs in the same month. The Tribal Access to Nutrition Assistance Act would increase food security among Tribal communities - who suffer from much higher rates of food insecurity than the general public - and eliminate the administrative burden that comes with forcing individuals who qualify by both SNAP and FDPIR to pick between programs each month.

"I am proud to continue pushing for this needed legislation to support Tribal communities. This commonsense bill will make it easier for Tribes to access the food programs they deserve and keep families across the country fed and healthy. Since the Republican tax bill cut SNAP benefits for thousands of Nevadans, it is more important than ever to deliver this solution to our Tribes," said Senator Cortez Masto.

"We need to do everything we can to make sure tribal families and individuals in Washington state and all over this country have food on their tables. It is outrageous and unfair that they are being forced to pick between nutrition assistance programs that they plainly need and are clearly eligible for," said Senator Murray. "This legislation is a common-sense fix that will increase food security - making sure fewer people go hungry - and reducing the red tape and hurdles that result from frequent switching between programs. Folks who are eligible for other food assistance programs, like WIC, can use those benefits on top of SNAP - and there's no reason that the FDPIR benefits should not work the same way. As Democrats fight to repeal Trump's SNAP cuts, passing this legislation would be an important step in the right direction. Tribal communities should not have to deal with this double standard any longer, and I will never stop fighting to make sure these communities get the nutrition assistance they deserve."

The Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) provides USDA foods to income-eligible households living on Indian reservations and to Native American households residing in designated areas near reservations or in Oklahoma. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps low-income individuals and families by providing monthly benefits to purchase food.

Right now, individuals who qualify for both SNAP and FDPIR cannot use both programs in the same month - they are forced to pick one. This is not representative of any other food program combination. For example, individuals who qualify for both SNAP and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), or SNAP and The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), may use both. The Tribal Access to Nutrition Assistance Act will allow individuals who qualify for both SNAP and FDPIR to use both programs in the same month, increasing food security among Tribal communities.

This legislation is supported by the Intertribal Agriculture Council, the National Congress of American Indians, and the National Association of Food Distribution Programs on Indian Reservations.

"This legislation is tremendously important to ensure that our tribal communities have access to the nutrition programs that best serve their communities," said Nicole Lamboley, president & CEO of the Food Bank of Northern Nevada. "Healthy communities begin with equitable access to these vital programs, bringing nutritious foods to the tables of families and individuals of our entire service area."

"Duck Valley, like many tribal communities across the country, struggles with adequate access to food and economic opportunity," said the Shoshone-Paiute Business Council. "It severely harms our elders, children, and community when our basic needs cannot be met. Having access to both SNAP and FDIPR will alleviate that burden for our most vulnerable and uplift those who depend on these resources. As a Nevada tribal nation, we strongly support Senator Cortez Masto's efforts to get this vital piece of legislation passed."

Senator Cortez Masto is a fierce advocate for Nevada's Tribal communities. She is leading three bipartisan bills to address the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIP). In addition to fighting to improve public safety in Indian Country, Cortez Masto has pushed to better health care, maintain voting rights, and deliver tax parity for Tribes.

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