A bipartisan group of senators is demanding immediate action from USDA Secretary Thomas Vilsack after several tribal nations reported that a federal food distribution program they rely on has not fulfilled orders for months, and in some cases has delivered expired food.
Last spring, the USDA consolidated from two contractors to one for deliveries of its Food Distribution Program in Indian Reservations. In a letter sent to Vilsack on Friday, the senators expressed concern that Native American families across the country are experiencing ''extreme disruptions.''
''Participating households have not had consistent food deliveries for over four months,'' the senators wrote. ''This is unacceptable.''
The Associated Press obtained a copy of the letter exclusively Thursday, before it was sent the USDA leader.
Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon said he was stunned to hear from five tribal nations in his state this summer that they have been struggling to meet their families' needs since the consolidation.
''The USDA must swiftly and fully address this self-inflicted crisis,'' Merkley said in a statement. ''There can be no more excuses for food delays, missed deliveries, or delivery of expired products.''
Merkley is joined in the letter by Republican senators John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer of North Dakota and Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, as well as Democrats Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, Ron Wyden of Oregon, and Tina Smith of Minnesota.
More than 50,000 Native American families rely on this food, said Mary Greene-Trottier, who directs food distribution for the Spirit Lake Nation and is president of the National Association of Food Distribution Programs on Indian Reservations.