Healthy Foods for Native Seniors Act
Healthy Foods for Native Seniors Act would establish a demonstration project within the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) that lets tribal entities purchase agricultural commodities for CSFP on tribal lands through self-determination contracts. In practice, this means certain tribal organizations could directly select and buy domestically produced foods that will be distributed through their CSFP operations, rather than relying solely on standard federal procurement. The project must keep total food quantities at or below the current CSFP package level (the Guide Rate) and prioritize foods with equal or better nutrition or foods with cultural or tribal significance. The bill also creates a reporting requirement to Congress and provides funding to run the demonstration and to hire staff to administer tribal self-determination contracts. It signals a shift toward greater tribal control over CSFP purchases, while maintaining nutrition and quantity safeguards.
Key Points
- 1Demonstration project for Tribal entities to purchase agricultural commodities under CSFP via self-determination contracts for their reservations.
- 2Eligibility criteria: tribes/entities must consult with the Secretary to participate, and selected entities must already administer CSFP well, have capacity to purchase commodities, and meet other Secretary-determined criteria (in consultation with Interior).
- 3Procurement rules: purchases must be domestically produced, not increase the overall CSFP food package amount beyond the current Guide Rate, and be nutritionally similar or better than what would be replaced (or have tribal significance), plus other criteria set by the Secretary.
- 4Reporting requirement: the Secretary must report to relevant House and Senate Agriculture committees on the demonstration annually, describing activities of the prior year (and a report within 1 year of funding).
- 5Funding: authorizes $5 million (to remain available until spent) to carry out the demonstration; funds must be appropriated in advance specifically for this subsection.
- 6Administration and staffing: the Secretary must designate an existing USDA office to administer these tribal contracts (including awarding contracts and hiring staff), and Congress appropriates $1.2 million per year (fiscal years 2026–2029) for contract officers and program staff salaries and benefits.