With the current federal government partial shutdown of the USDA, BIA, IHS and other federal agencies, many essential federal nutrition assistance programs—like the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)—could run out of funding by the end of January, ending food assistance for 90,000-100,000 Tribal citizens. Action must be taken by Congress and the President to ensure that Native households throughout Indian Country do not lose access to the basic food supplies provided by FDPIR.

U.S. House Natural Resources Committee Ch airman Raúl M. Grijalva is holding a hearing today to discuss the impact of the ongoing shutdown on Indian Country. Witnesses will include:
  • Chairman Aaron Payment, Chair, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and 1st Vice President, National Congress of American Indians
  • Mary Greene Trottier (Spirit Lake Nation), President, National Association of Food Distribution Programs on Indian Reservations (NAFDPIR) Board
  • Kerry Hawk Lessard (Shawnee), Executive Director, Native American Lifelines


U.S. House Natural Resources Committee Hearing:
The impact of the government shutdown on Indian Country

Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2019

11 a.m. EST / 10 a.m. CST / 9 a.m. MST / 8 a.m. PST / 7 a.m. AKST