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HILL RESOURCES

Advocacy resources â€‹â€‹â€‹â€‹

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119th Congress Marker Bill Tracker

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Correspondence and media statements

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Fact sheets and reports 

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NCAI resolutions

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FDPIR and CSFP warehouse disruption

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Freshwater and Seafood Production 

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Buy Indian Act  

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Wild Rice Specialty Crop Act

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  • Midwest Alliance of Sovereign Tribes | Resolution No. 07-22 Opposing the proposed Wild Rice Specialty Crop Act (Dec. 15, 2022)

  • NFBC | Overview of concerns raised by Tribal governments on the Wild Rice Specialty Crop Act

  • Minnesota Department of Agriculture | Wild Rice Legislative Report (Jan. 18, 2024)

    • ​​Note: “Agrees of Disagreement - The parties differed in their perspectives on the future of the Wild Rice Breeding Program. Cultivated wild rice producers expressed an interest in traditional breeding to remain competitive with California. However, California has become less competitive due to water availability issues decreasing the feasibility of crops. The proposed California legislation to amend specialty crop funding, primarily benefiting California, could further erode their competitiveness.”

  • Statement of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance | Statement on the definition of specialty crops (July 2022)

    • ​​Note: “The SCFBA opposes any attempt to expand the definition of specialty crops beyond the commonly understood meaning set forth in the [Specialty Crop Competitiveness Act of 2004]… Recent proposals to expand the definition of specialty crops include shellfish, hemp, decorative stone, and niche grains like wild rice.”

Congressional press releases mentioning the Native Farm Bill Coalition   

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Clips from relevant hearings

Rep. Johnson and Rep. Vasquez introduce amendment to strengthen tribal colleges and universities

March 3-4, 2026

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Representative Dusty Johnson (R-SD) and Representative Gabe Vasquez (D-NM) explain their amendment to expand research and facilities support for 1994 land-grant TCUs. The amendment allows TCUs to use existing federal funds to acquire, maintain and operate critical equipment, modernize facilities, and enhance research capacity without diverting or increasing funding.

Rep. Sharice Davids introduces FDPIR amendment

March 3-4, 2026

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Representative Sharice Davids (D-KS) explains her amendment to make the FDIPR permanent and expand tribal self-governance and emphasizes that 16 tribal nations have successfully run the program since the 2028 Farm Bill and highlights the benefits for traditional foods, regional food systems and tribal producers while urging that making FDPIR permanent will expand self-governance and respect tribal sovereignty. Representative Craig offers support by noting the programs limited funding and the need to make this amendment permanent for participating tribes.

Chair GT Thompson opposes amendment funding new soil health authorization

March 3-4, 2026

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Chair GT Thompson (R-PA) explains his opposition to the new soil health amendment. While acknowledging the Farm Bill already establishes a new state and tribal soil health program, he argues that monitoring and evaluation are already built into programs.

Rep. Chellie Pingree on cuts to Tribal agriculture programs in House Farm Bill text

March 3-4, 2026

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Representative Chellie Pingree (D-ME) warns that the Farm Bill would remove Tribal authority and eliminate Tribal access to agriculture meditation programs that help resolve loan disputes and support farm transitions.

Rep. Jill Tokuda D HI on Farm Bill provisions supporting Indigenous agriculture

March 3-4, 2026

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Representative Jill Tokuda (D-HI) highlights provisions that she supports in the bill, including the Tropical Plant Health Initiative, reauthorization of Native Hawaiian and Alaska Native serving institution grants, and expanded rural hospital technical assistance, which she says strengthen agriculture, education and community health.

Rep. Jill Tokuda (D-HI) on farmers struggling and rising hunger in Hawaii

March 3-4, 2026

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Rep. Jill Tokuda (D-HI-2) questions U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on how to remove barriers for Native producers accessing USDA programs during the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture’s hearing on February 14, 2024.

Rep. Shontel Brown on rising grocery prices and strain on food banks

March 3-4, 2026

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Representative Shontel Brown warns that the Farm Bill would leave small producers, specialty crop farmers, families and Tribal communities behind.

Rep. Angie Craig speaks on bill threatening Tribal access to USDA programs

March 3-4, 2026

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Representative Angie Craig (D-MN) shares her disappointment that the House Farm Bill text rolls back provisions that would expand Tribal access to USDA programs.

Sen. Tina Smith questions USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden 

July 30th, 2025

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Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) questions USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden at a U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry hearing.

Rep. Andy Harris on FDPIR food delivery crisis
Sept. 11, 2024

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Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) speaks at the Joint Oversight Hearing on Severe Food Distribution Shortages in Tribal and Elderly Communities hearing held by the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Foreign Agriculture, and Horticulture of the Committee on Agriculture and the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations.

Rep. Sanford Bishop, Jr. on FDPIR food delivery crisis

Sept. 11, 2024

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Rep. Sanford Bishop, Jr. (D-GA) speaks at the Joint Oversight Hearing on Severe Food Distribution Shortages in Tribal and Elderly Communities hearing held by the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Foreign Agriculture, and Horticulture of the Committee on Agriculture and the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations.

Rep. Tom Cole on FDPIR food delivery crisis

Sept. 11, 2024

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Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) speaks at the Joint Oversight Hearing on Severe Food Distribution Shortages in Tribal and Elderly Communities hearing held by the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Foreign Agriculture, and Horticulture of the Committee on Agriculture and the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations.

Rep. Alma Adams on FDPIR food delivery crisis

Sept. 11, 2024

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Rep. Alma Adams (D-NC) speaks at the Joint Oversight Hearing on Severe Food Distribution Shortages in Tribal and Elderly Communities hearing held by the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Foreign Agriculture, and Horticulture of the Committee on Agriculture and the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations.

Rep. Ben Cline on FDPIR food delivery crisis

Sept. 11, 2024

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Rep. Ben Cline (R-VA) speaks at the Joint Oversight Hearing on Severe Food Distribution Shortages in Tribal and Elderly Communities hearing held by the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Foreign Agriculture, and Horticulture of the Committee on Agriculture and the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations.

Rep. Dusty Johnson on SNAP Tribal Food Sovereignty Act

May 23, 2024

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Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) speaks about the SNAP Tribal Food Sovereignty Act at the U.S. House Agricultural Committee’s markup of the 2024 Farm Bill on May 23, 2024.

Rep. Jill Tokuda’s 2024 House Agriculture Committee Farm Bill markup remarks

May 23, 2024

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Rep. Jill Tokuda (D-HI) speaks at the U.S. House Agricultural Committee’s markup of the 2024 Farm Bill on May 23, 2024.

Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) U.S. Senate Floor Remarks on Native Farm Bill Coalition

May 21, 2024

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Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) speaks about the Native Farm Bill Coalition on the U.S. Senate Floor on May 21, 2024.

Self-Governance Authority and the Farm Bill

May 20, 2024

Rep. Tokuda questions USDA Secretary Vilsack on Native priorities for the Farm Bill

Feb. 14, 2024

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Rep. Jill Tokuda (D-HI-2) questions U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on how to remove barriers for Native producers accessing USDA programs during the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture’s hearing on February 14, 2024.

“A 2022 Review of the Farm Bill: Stakeholder Perspectives on Non-SNAP USDA Nutrition Programs”

June 14, 2022

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Full Committee on Agriculture Hearing

Gary Besaw testimony on FDPIR 638 Self-Determination Demonstration Project

June 14, 2022​

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Gary Besaw testifies before the House Agriculture Committee Hearing on FDPIR and FDPIR 638 Self-Determination Demonstration Project on June 14, 2022.

“A 2022 Review of the Farm Bill: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program”

April 28, 2022

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Full Committee on Agriculture Hearing

Secretary Vilsack testimony regarding 638 authority

April 28, 2022

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U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack answers questions from Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) on tribal self governance and 638 authority before the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies.

Stacy Dean testimony regarding self-determination projects

April 22, 2022

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Stacy Dean, Deputy Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services, U.S. Department of Agriculture, testifies before the U.S. House Agriculture Committee on self-determination projects.

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