Murray, Cortez Masto Reintroduce Legislation to Expand Food Assistance for Tribal Households in WA 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. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) reintroduced 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.

"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."

"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.

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.

The legislation is supported by the Yakama Nation, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, the Native Farm Bill Coalition, the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, the Intertribal Agriculture Council, the National Congress of American Indians, the Seattle Indian Health Board, and the National Association of Food Distribution Programs on Indian Reservations.

Full text of the legislation is available HERE.

Yakama Nation Tribal Council Chairman Gerald Lewis said, "The Yakama Nation is very appreciative to Senator Murray for re-introducing this legislation to bring parity for tribal members in accessing federal nutrition programs. The Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) provides a variety of foods that align with federal dietary guidelines to income-eligible Native American households living on Indian reservations or near tribal homelands. However, an oversight in federal law prohibits Indian families participating in the FDPIR program from also participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) at the same time, even though FDPIR is not intended to be comprehensive - and such prohibitions are not imposed on other federal nutrition assistance programs. We are pleased to see Senator Murray act to correct this and know it will benefit families here at Yakama - especially with the cost of food, transportation, utilities, and other necessities continuing to rise. Removing this barrier would give tribal families greater flexibility to meet their nutritional and financial needs. It would also strengthen tribal and surrounding economies by allowing families to purchase additional groceries from local stores, farmers, producers, and tribally owned businesses. Federal nutrition benefits do more than address hunger-they circulate through the local economy, support jobs, increase demand for locally produced foods, and help build stronger and more resilient tribal food systems. This legislation would provide meaningful relief to Yakama families while advancing food security, economic stability, and the health and well-being of our communities."

Cindy Marchand, Chairwoman of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, said, "The Colville Tribes fully supports the Tribal Access to Nutrition Act. No one should go hungry in the richest country in the world. The Colville Reservation is situated within two of the poorest counties in the State of Washington, so we recognize how critical it is for qualified people to be able to access both the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations. We applaud Senator Murray and other proponents of this legislation for their work to truly benefit the lives of many regular people in a clear and tangible way."

"The Native Farm Bill Coalition is pleased to continue our support of the Tribal Access to Nutrition Assistance Act-common sense legislation that would remove the statutory prohibition to Native Americans using FDPIR and SNAP in the same month despite laws allowing other individuals to qualify for multiple federal feeding programs, such as TEFAP and SNAP or WIC and SNAP, in the same month," said Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Vice-Chairman Cole Miller and Intertribal Agriculture Council Executive Director Kari Jo Lawrence, who co-chair the Native Farm Bill Coalition. "This legislation would promote food security in Indian Country by removing administrative hurdles and delays that currently exist for Native Americans who may need to move between FDPIR and SNAP and puts them on par with individuals using other federal feeding programs."

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