WASHINGTON, August 19, 2009 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that Indian Tribal Organizations and States operating the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) will receive approximately $1 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to purchase equipment and improve facilities needed to provide food assistance.

"It is imperative that people in the United States have access to safe and nutritious food, and through the Recovery Act, we're investing resources to enhance the availability of food on Indian Reservations and tribal lands," said Vilsack. "The Obama administration is committed to increasing the health and nutrition of people throughout the country, and these Recovery Act investments will help further that goal."

Through FDPIR, USDA purchases food that is provided to low-income households, including the elderly, living on Indian reservations, and to Native American families residing in designated areas near reservations and in the State of Oklahoma. Currently, there are 271 tribes receiving benefits under FDPIR through 98 Indian Tribal Organizations and 5 State agencies. Almost 100,000 individuals receive a monthly FDPIR food package.

Today's announcement is the first in a series of FDPIR Recovery Act allocations; altogether $5 million in Recovery Act funding will be provided.

Indian Tribal Organizations and government agencies benefiting from today's announcement include:

#

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272(voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).