ACTION ALERTS
Check this page for ways you can take action and share your priorities for Indian Country in the upcoming Farm Bill.
2025 ACTION ALERTS
October 27, 2025 - SNAP WIC Letter
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As the government shutdown approaches a full month, SNAP benefits are set to expire on Friday, October 31. This could have a devastating impact on Indian Country. An estimated 170,000-500,000 Tribal members participate in SNAP. With the increased cost of food — especially on reservations where the cost of basic staples are even higher — Tribal Nations cannot afford a lapse in food benefits.
The NFBC urges Congress to take immediate action to reinstate SNAP benefits and for USDA to use its SNAP contingency fund to continue providing benefits during the government shutdown. We encourage you to also ask Congress to take immediate action on SNAP benefits using this template letter.​​​​​
August 18, 2025 - Urge USDA to Hold a Tribal Consultation on its Reorganization Plan
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced its plan to reorganize the agency and is accepting public comment on these plans through August 26. Of importance to NFBC members, the memorandum detailing USDA’s plan for reorganization issued on July 24, 2025, states it will “consolidate tribal relations functions within mission areas and ensure the Office of Tribal Relations delivers all statutorily required tribal relations functions.”
This public comment period does not constitute adequate consultation with Tribal governments required by USDA’s own Tribal consultation policy. Native Farm Bill Coalition Co-Chairs Cole Miller and Kari Jo Lawrence submitted a letter urging USDA to hold a Tribal consultation to discuss the impacts it might have on Tribal agriculture and programs.
We encourage Tribes and Tribal organizations to submit similar letters to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) via its public comment email to urge USDA to hold a Tribal consultation on its reorganization plan. Letters urging USDA to hold a Tribal consultation should be sent to reorganization@usda.gov and brooke.rollins@usda.gov by August 26, 2025.
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Additionally, we recommend to cc Tribal.Relations@usda.gov in all email submissions.
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Congressional Calls for Tribal Consultation on the Impacts of USDA’s Reorganization Plan
Lawmakers have also called on USDA to consult with Tribal governments. During a Senate Agriculture Committee hearing on USDA’s reorganization plan, Senator Tina Smith, D-MN, asked USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden about USDA’s plans to consult with Tribal governments.
Similarly, House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig, D-MN, sent a letter to USDA asking whether consolidating Tribal relations functions would reduce the number of USDA staff carrying out statutory and non-statutory Tribal relations functions.
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Resources:
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NFBC Letter to USDA Urging Tribal Consultation on its Reorganization Plan
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House Agriculture Committee Minority Letter to USDA Mentioning Proposed Changes to Tribal Relations
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June 26, 2025 - SNAP Work Requirements
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Dear NFBC Member:​
As you may know, the Senate is currently considering a domestic policy megabill that will include changes to work requirements for certain adults to participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry released revised text that would exempt Indians, Urban Indians, California Indians, and other Indians who are eligible for the Indian Health Service from SNAP work requirements.
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The co-chairs of the Native Farm Bill Coalition sent a letter to Senate and Committee leadership asking them to preserve this provision exempting Tribal citizens in the final bill text and during conference. See the full letter here.
We need your help to make sure the SNAP work requirement exemption for Tribes stays in the final bill! Write to your senators urging them to support SNAP work requirement exemptions for Tribes. You can use or modify the template message below. Find your senators here.
Your voice matters and will help strengthen access to SNAP for Tribal communities.
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For further information please contact Kayla Gebeck Carroll at kayla.gebeck@hklaw.com ​
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Template Letter
​Dear Senator [Your Senator]:
As a [citizen, member, Council member, etc] of [Your Tribe] and a constituent in [Your City, Your State], I urgently ask you to protect and strengthen Tribal access to SNAP by supporting the work requirements exemption for Tribal citizens in the final reconcilation text and during conference.
At least 25% of American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) experience food insecurity — twice the national rate. Tribal communities are also often located in some of the most remote regions of the country with limited job opportunities, leading to disproportionately higher rates of unemployment. As a result, it can be significantly more difficult for Tribal citizens to meet work requirements for SNAP participation, worsening hunger rates in Tribal communities.
The revised reconciliation text from the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry includes a provision that exempts Indians, Urban Indians, California Indians, and other Indians who are eligible for the Indian Health Service from SNAP work requirements. This provision protects access to nutrition for Tribes, and I urge you to support its inclusion in the final reconciliation text and during conference.
Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]
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