IFAI Policy Brief March 18, 2025

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Summary

  • IFAI will host a webinar on March 27 at 1 p.m. Central to examine the latest impacts of these actions on Tribal food and agriculture concerns. Register here. 
  • Participate in the comment period for the Child Nutrition Programs Tribal Pilot Projects by March 24. IFAI’s comment template can be found here 
  • The FDPIR Tribal Leader Consultation Work Group will have its first consultation of 2025 on April 7 at the Tribal Self-Governance Conference at Gila River Tribe’s Wild Horse Pass. Registration is required. IFAI will host a pre-Consultation briefing on April 3 at 1 p.m. Central closed to Tribal leaders, their staff and FDPIR program operators. Register here. 
  • USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service issued Income Eligibility Guidelines effective July 1, 2025, for WIC and Child Nutrition Programs.  

Calendar

Tribal Consultation/Listening Sessions/Advisory Committee Meetings

Title of Event: Request for Information: Child Nutrition Programs Tribal Pilot Projects 

About: The U.S. Department of Agriculture is taking feedback from Indian Country on the Child Nutrition Tribal Pilot Projects through a Request for Information process. The pilot will allow Tribal operations to administer one or more child nutrition programs like: 

  • National School Lunch Program 
  • School Breakfast Program 
  • Child & Adult Care Food Program  
  • Summer Food Service Program 

The final comment deadline is March 24, 2025. IFAI has information and a comment template for Tribes interested in submitting here on our website.  

Title of Event: Tribal Leader Consultation Work Group Tribal Consultation  

About: This is the first meeting for 2025 for the Consultation Work Group. Agenda to be published when available.  

  • Date(s), Time, and Location: 
  • Monday, April 7, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. mountain 
  • Gila River Wild Horse Pass d 

5040 Wild Horse Pass Blvd. Room TBD 

Chandler, AZ 

Congressional Sessions:

 

Looking back: 

Hearing: Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry – March 11, 2025 

Topic: Perspectives from the Field: Risk Management, Credit, and Rural Business Views on the Agricultural Economy Part 3 

Highlights: Witnesses stressed the importance of crop insurance and access to credit to sustain farm economy and encourage young and new farmers. They also highlighted the need to have the Farm Bill authorized.  There was no discussion pertaining specifically to Tribal food and agriculture.  

Looking ahead:

No Congressional hearings relevant to Indian Country this week. 

Nomination opportunities: 

 

Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission Permanent Advisory Committee 

Agency: National Marine Fisheries Service; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

Description: The Advisory Committee provides recommendations to the U.S. Commissioners to the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission regarding the deliberations and decisions of the Commission. 

Nomination due: March 24, 2025 

Regulatory/Rulemaking Actions

Title: Child Nutrition Programs: Income Eligibility Guidelines 

  • USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) announces the Income Eligibility Guidelines for free and reduced-price meals and free milk and Summer-EBT benefits from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. 
  • States and Indian Tribal Organizations that administer Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children Program use these guidelines.  
  • FNS uses the annual Federal poverty guidelines issued by the Department of Health and Human Services.  
  • These guidelines take effect on July 1, 2025. 

Posted: Week of March 17, 2025 

Title: Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC): 2025/2026 Income Eligibility Guidelines 

  • USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) announces the Income Eligibility Guidelines for WIC to be used in conjunction with WIC regulations for the period of July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026. 
  • A state cannot set WIC guidelines that exceed the guidelines for reduced- price school meals.  
  • These guidelines take effect on July 1, 2025. 

Posted: Week of March 17, 2025 

Title: Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer for Children Program; 2025 Benefits Levels 

  • USDA’s. Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) announces any annual adjustments to the level of monthly benefits in the Summer EBT Program.  
  • For the 48 States, District of Columbia and Indian Tribal Organizations, the adjustment is based on the monthly Thrifty Food Plan cost for a reference family of four. 
  • There is no change in 2025 monthly level benefits for the 48 States, District of Columbia, Indian Tribal Organizations at $40 per month and a total of $120 over the summer months.  
  • These benefit levels are in effect Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2025. 

Posted: Week of March 10, 2025