A bipartisan group of senators is expressing concern over the USDA's decision to use a single contractor to distribute food to Indian Reservations. The federal program provides food assistance to 50,000 Native American families across the country.
A bipartisan group of senators is demanding immediate action from USDA Secretary Thomas Vilsak after several tribal nations reported that a federal food distribution program they rely on has not fulfilled orders for months, and in some cases has delivered expired food.
The Associated Press obtained a copy of the letter exclusively Thursday, before it was sent the USDA leader. More than 50,000 Native American families rely on this food, said Mary Greene-Trottier, who directs food distribution for the Spirit Lake Nation and is president of the National Association of Food Distribution Programs on Indian Reservations.
The agency said the decision to consolidate was the outcome of a competitive bidding process, and Paris Brothers was the only company that the USDA board determined could meet the need. To help the contractor scale up to handle a larger influx of inventory, the agency has provided USDA staff to assist with customer service-related work with tribes and is partnering with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help with the company’s logistics program.
U.S. Department Of Agriculture General News OR State Wire ND State Wire MN State Wire MO State Wire NM State Wire OK State Wire Kansas City Business Markwayne Mullin U.S. News A Tina Smith Kevin Cramer Politics John Hoeven N Ron Wyden Jeff Merkley Government Programs Race And Ethnicity Martin Heinrich U.S. News Race And Ethnicity
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