Rep. Gabe Vasquez Demands Action from Agriculture Secretary After Tribal Food Delivery Program Experiences Serious Delays

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Thursday, August 29, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (N.M.-02) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack demanding accountability for unacceptable delays of food deliveries to New Mexico Tribes by the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR). This letter comes on the heels of complaints from Tribal communities about late deliveries, spoiled food and shipments not arriving at all. 

“The FDPIR delays have had real impacts on my district,” wrote Vasquez in the letter. “FDPIR is a lifeline for my constituents and these delays left more than one hundred families struggling to put food on the table. I am calling on USDA to investigate these matters and promptly implement corrective measures to ensure that food deliveries are timely and meet the highest quality standards.”

Vasquez’s letter calls on the USDA to address these delivery issues, work with Acoma and Zuni Pueblos to ensure they are compensated for their losses and conduct robust Tribal consultation to make sure FDPIR is working for New Mexico’s Tribes and Pueblos. This program is critical to the well-being of many Tribal Nations in New Mexico, providing nutritious food to Tribal members. Tribes in New Mexico experience higher rates of hunger and poverty and often are located in remote areas without grocery stores. 

Earlier this year, Vasquez introduced the Tribal Nutrition Sovereignty Act, a new bill aimed at expanding access to the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) for Tribal communities. The CSFP provides low-income seniors with essential food to ensure they receive their daily nutrients. This bill was included in the House-version of the Farm Bill. Currently, Tribal communities lack direct access to the CSFP, creating barriers for low-income seniors. The Tribal Nutrition Sovereignty Act will address this issue by making it easier for Tribes and Pueblos to benefit from the program, granting them greater sovereignty in their food options.

Full text of the letter can be found here.

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