H.R. 3956 — Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) Act of 2025

This section establishes a new paragraph in Section 4(b) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 authorizing Indian tribes and tribal organizations (i.e., "Indian entities" as defined in 25 U.S.C. 5304) to request and enter into self-determination contracts or self-governance funding agreements (as defined in the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act) with the Secretary of Agriculture to purchase agricultural commodities and administer programs, functions, services, or activities (or portions thereof) related to the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR). (FDPIR provides USDA-purchased food packages to low-income households on or near Indian reservations in lieu of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.) The section presumes Indian entity eligibility if the entity meets requirements under Title I (self-determination contracts) or Title IV (self-governance) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act and requires consultation with Indian tribes on Tribal organization participation processes. Agricultural commodities purchased by an Indian entity under such agreements must (1) be domestically produced, (2) result in no material increase or decrease in total food package amount compared to the FDPIR Guide Rate, and (3) be of similar or higher nutritional value than supplanted commodities or hold Tribal significance to the entity. The section further requires the Secretary to submit annual reports to the House Committee on Agriculture and Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, beginning one year after enactment, describing Indian entity activities under these contracts and agreements.

This section applies Titles I (self-determination contracts) and IV (self-governance compacts) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975, along with Department of the Interior regulations, to the negotiation, execution, and administration of self-determination or self-governance agreements authorized under this paragraph (7). Such statutory and regulatory provisions may be adapted to Department of Agriculture programs, functions, services, or activities only with the negotiated consent of the affected Indian entity on a case-by-case basis, and all adaptations must adhere to the rule of construction in section 406(i) of the Act (25 U.S.C. 5366(i)) liberally construing provisions for the benefit of the Indian entity and resolving ambiguities in its favor.

This section terminates demonstration projects under section 4003(b) of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 that allow eligible tribal organizations to administer the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) on their reservations. (Thus, such administration ceases after the end of the performance period for all tribes holding contracts, with households reverting to state-administered SNAP or the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations.)