,,ii #aahth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #bedj ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,july #bf1 #bjbc,mr4 ,lujn introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh to allow for increased flexibility in the food distribution program on ,indian reservations1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,tribal ,nutrition ,flexibility ,act of #bjbc4 #b4 ,increased flexibility under food distribution program on ,indian reservations ,section #d7;b7 of the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjac7;b77 is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#e7-- 7,a7 in the matter preceding subparagraph 7,a71 by striking paragraph and inserting subparagraph2 and 7,b7 by redesignating subparagraphs 7,a7 and 7,b7 as clauses 7i7 and 7ii71 respectively1 and indenting appropriately2 7#b7 by redesignating paragraph 7#e7 as subparagraph 7,b7 and indenting appropriately2 7#c7 by inserting after subparagraph 7,d7 of paragraph 7#d7 the following3 7#e7 ,domestic commodities 7,a7 ,requirement 7i7 ,in general ,except as provided in clause 7ii71 commodities provided through the food distribution program on ,indian reservations under this subsection shall be products of the ,united ,states4 7ii7 ,exception ,notwithstanding any other provision of law1 in the case of a disaster1 emergency1 or severe supply chain disruption1 the ,secretary may1 on request of a ,tribal organization or ,state agency1 temporarily waive the requirement under clause 7i74 2 7#d7 in paragraph 7#f7-- 7,a7 by redesignating subparagraphs 7,c71 7,d71 and 7,e7 as subparagraphs 7,g71 7,e71 and 7,f71 respectively1 and reordering accordingly2 and 7,b7 by inserting after subparagraph 7,b7 the following3 7,c7 ,traditional and cultural foods ,for purposes of the requirement under paragraph 7#e77;,a71 any traditional or culturally appropriate food sourced under this paragraph by a ,tribal organization or the ,secretary from a ,tribal band of the recipient ,tribe that is located across an international boundary line shall be considered a product of the ,united ,states4 7,d7 ,foods provided on regional or national basis ,the ,secretary shall have the authority to distribute traditional and culturally appropriate foods on a regional basis1 in addition to a national basis4 2 7#e7 by redesignating paragraph 7#g7 as paragraph 7#i72 and 7#f7 by inserting after paragraph 7#f7 the following3 7#g7 ,waiver authority 7,a7 ,definition of covered regulation ,the term covered regulation means a regulation issued by the ,secretary pursuant to this subsection on determination by the ,secretary that the regulation is necessary or appropriate for the effective and efficient administration of the food distribution program on ,indian reservations under this subsection4 7,b7 ,purpose ,the purpose of this paragraph is to facilitate the effective operation of the food distribution program on ,indian reservations under this subsection in partnership with ,tribal organizations and ,state agencies4 7,c7 ,waiver 7i7 ,in general ,the ,secretary may waive a covered regulation on the request of an ,indian ,tribe4 7ii7 ,request ,an ,indian ,tribe shall request a waiver under clause 7i7 through the ,office of ,tribal ,relations1 which shall consult with any implicated agency regarding the waiver4 7iii7 ,determination 7,i7 ,in general ,not later than #cj days after receiving a request under clause 7ii71 the ,secretary shall respond in writing with a determination4 7,,ii7 ,denial ,if the ,secretary determines under subclause 7,i7 that the waiver is denied1 the ,secretary shall-- 7aa7 include in the written response any curative adjustments necessary to approve the waiver2 and 7bb7 permit the ,indian ,tribe to resubmit a waiver request with those curative adjustments not later than #cj days after the receipt of the response of the ,secretary under subclause 7,i74 7,,iii7 ,subsequent approval ,the ,secretary shall grant a waiver to an ,indian ,tribe not later than #cj days after determining that a resubmitted request under subclause 7,,ii77bb7 satisfactorily cures the reasons for the initial denial of the request4 7#h7 ,sourcing for nutrition education 7,a7 ,in general ,subject to the availability of appropriations and the funds described in subparagraph 7,b71 the ,secretary shall establish a fund from which the ,secretary may-- 7i7 provide funds to ,tribal organizations or ,state agencies administering the food distribution program on ,indian reservations under this subsection for the purchase of traditional locally- and regionally-grown herbs and spices for use in nutrition education programming for recipients of food distributed under that program2 or 7ii7 on request of a ,tribal organization or ,state agency1 purchase the herbs and spices described in clause 7i7 on behalf of the ,tribal organization or ,state agency for the purposes described in that clause4 7,b7 ,nutrition education funding ,if appropriated funds are not available1 ,tribal organizations and ,state agencies may use to carry out subparagraph 7,a7 nutrition education funds otherwise provided by the ,secretary for the food distribution program on ,indian reservations under this subsection4 7,c7 ,nutrition education programming ,tribal organizations shall have broad discretion in determining the format and content of nutrition education programming provided to recipients of food distributed under the food distribution program on ,indian reservations under this subsection4 4