I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2236 
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 
MARCH 18, 2025 
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 dem-
onstration project to allow Tribal entities to purchase 
agricultural commodities under the commodity supple-
mental food program, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Healthy Foods for Na-
tive Seniors Act’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:10 Mar 29, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2236.IH
H2236
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
SEC. 2. COMMODITY SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD PROGRAM 
DEMONSTRATION PROJECT FOR TRIBAL OR-
GANIZATIONS. 
(a) DEMONSTRATION PROJECT FOR TRIBAL ORGANI-
ZATIONS.— 
(1) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
(A) DEMONSTRATION PROJECT.—The term 
‘‘demonstration project’’ means the demonstra-
tion 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 Pro-
tection Act of 1973 (7 U.S.C. 612c note). 
(C) INDIAN RESERVATION.—The term ‘‘In-
dian 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 sec-
tion 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 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:10 Mar 29, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2236.IH
H2236
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
meaning given such term in section 4 of the In-
dian Self-Determination and Education Assist-
ance 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 Nutri-
tion Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2012). 
(2) ESTABLISHMENT.—Subject to the avail-
ability of appropriations, the Secretary shall estab-
lish 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. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:10 Mar 29, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2236.IH
H2236
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(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 en-
tity; 
(ii) have the capacity to purchase ag-
ricultural commodities in accordance with 
paragraph (4) for the food distribution 
program of the Tribal entity; and 
(iii) meet any other criteria deter-
mined by the Secretary, in consultation 
with the Secretary of the Interior and 
Tribal entities. 
(4) PROCUREMENT
OF
AGRICULTURAL
COM-
MODITIES.—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; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:10 Mar 29, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2236.IH
H2236
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(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 agricul-
tural 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 para-
graph (6), and annually thereafter, the Secretary 
shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Ag-
riculture, 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
APPROPRIA-
TIONS.—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 sub-
paragraph (A), only funds appropriated in ad-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:10 Mar 29, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2236.IH
H2236
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
vance specifically to carry out this subsection 
shall be available to carry out this subsection. 
(b) ADMINISTRATION OF TRIBAL SELF-DETERMINA-
TION CONTRACTS.— 
(1) ADMINISTRATION.—The Secretary shall ap-
point an existing office of the Department of Agri-
culture to administer Tribal self-determination con-
tracts, 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 con-
tracts. 
(2) STAFFING
MINIMUM
FUNDING.—Notwith-
standing any other provision of law, there is author-
ized to be appropriated to the Secretary $1,200,000 
for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2029 for the 
payment of Department contract officers and pro-
gram staff salaries and benefits. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:10 Mar 29, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H2236.IH
H2236
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS