Congressional leaders reintroduce the Tribal Nutrition Improvement Act

Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-New Mexico), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada) and Tina Smith (D-Minnesota) reintroduced the Tribal Nutrition Improvement Act. This legislation gives tribes the authority to directly administer critical Child Nutrition Programs, such as the National School Lunch Program, and increases access to nutritious food for Native children. U.S. Representatives Deb Haaland (D-New Mexico) and Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico) also introduced companion legislation in the house.

The Native Farm Bill Coalition applauds these lawmakers for empowering tribal governments to feed their people and ensure that Native children don't go hungry. Native children are at a higher risk of hunger and nutrition-related diseases such as diabetes and obesity because of the limited accesss to affordable, nutritious food in Indian Country. By giving tribes the authority to administer Child Nutrition Programs, they can improve access to consistent and adequate nutrition.

Read the full text of the bill here .

Reactions from the NFBC

“The Tribal Nutrition Improvement Act will not only provide improved food access for Native youth, but it also creates opportunities for Indian Country’s farmers and ranchers to incorporate Native and traditional foods in school and after-school feeding programs."

— Zach Ducheneaux, Executive Director of the Intertribal Agriculture Council and Co-Chair of the Native Farm Bill Coalition

“Thank you to Senators Udall, Cortez Masto, and Smith and Representatives Haaland, Luján, and Grijalva for reintroducing this legislation to increase the capacity of tribally driven efforts to improve food and nutrition access for Native children everywhere."

— Keith Anderson, Vice-Chairman of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and Co-Chair of the Native Farm Bill Coalition

NativeFarmBillCoalition.org