[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8513 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8513

  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

                              May 22, 2024

 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 ``CSFP Tribal Nutrition Sovereignty 
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 2025 through 2028 
        for the payment of Department contract officers and program 
        staff salaries and benefits.
                                 <all>