Search Results for keywords:"Food and Nutrition Service"

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is proposing a rule to incorporate the FNS Handbook 310, a manual for conducting quality control reviews of SNAP cases, into SNAP regulations. This incorporation ensures public notice and comment before implementing any revisions to the handbook. The rule also seeks to remove references to another manual, the FNS Handbook 311, until it can be officially incorporated later. The Department is inviting public feedback on these changes until March 4, 2024.

The Department of Agriculture has submitted a request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to review information collection requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This involves feedback on the necessity and utility of the information collected, and suggestions for reducing the burden on respondents using technological solutions. Specifically, this revision relates to the Food Delivery Portal (FDP) Data Collection for the WIC Program, which gathers data from 89 WIC State agencies to ensure program integrity and compliance. The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) uses this information for oversight and to report to Congress and other stakeholders. The total number of respondents to this data collection is 356, with an annual reporting requirement resulting in 3,576 total burden hours.

The Agriculture Department and Food and Nutrition Service issued a correction to a previously published proposed rule concerning the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control Review Handbook. The original document, dated January 3, 2025, erroneously listed the date "March 4, 2024" under the DATES section. This has been corrected to read "March 4, 2025". This change ensures that readers have the correct information regarding important dates in the proposed rule.

The Department of Agriculture has submitted a request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act. They are asking for public comments about the necessity and utility of collecting information for certain projects. This collection relates to SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) demonstration projects, which test program changes to improve benefits delivery. Comments are requested by January 27, 2025, and can be submitted through the website provided. State agencies that conduct these projects must submit reports to the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to evaluate the effectiveness and ensure they do not increase costs.

The Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is seeking proposals from eligible Tribal Organizations to participate in a demonstration project aimed at purchasing agricultural commodities for the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR). This project is authorized by the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 and will allow selected Tribal Organizations to enter self-determination contracts for food purchases. A total of $3 million is allocated for the project, with individual proposals not exceeding $1.5 million. Proposals should be submitted by March 15, 2021, and organizations will be selected based on various criteria, including their capacity to purchase and distribute locally grown foods.

The Food and Nutrition Service of the USDA announced the benefit levels for 2025 in the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children Program. These benefits, unchanged from 2024, are adjusted annually based on the Thrifty Food Plan and include regional modifications for Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. Territories. For most areas, the monthly benefit remains at $40, while Alaska and Hawaii have higher amounts due to cost differences. These adjustments comply with the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)'s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is requesting feedback on the development of Child Nutrition Programs Tribal Pilot Projects. These projects, authorized by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, will allow Tribes and Tribal organizations to take on roles traditionally held by State agencies in administering school meal programs. The USDA is seeking input from Tribes, Tribal organizations, State agencies, and others on topics like eligibility criteria and the selection process for these pilot projects. Written comments are being accepted until March 24, 2025, to help shape the application process and evaluate potential challenges and support needs.

The Food and Nutrition Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture released a correction to a final rule regarding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Employment and Training (E&T) program. This correction modifies specific sections of the rule to help meet the program's goal of helping participants acquire the skills necessary for employment. It addresses errors in the previously published document and clarifies requirements for E&T participants who have completed high school or an equivalent before joining the program. The amended rule will take effect on January 17, 2025.

In a notice from the Food and Nutrition Service, under the Department of Agriculture, public comments are invited on a new information collection named Waivers and State Plans (WiSP). This initiative aims to streamline the process for state agencies by transitioning from individual collections to a single application for requesting program waivers and submitting state plans. It supports programs like the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and aims to enhance efficiency and compliance with legislation such as the American Rescue Plan Act and the Access to Baby Formula Act. The public is encouraged to comment on the utility and burden of this collection effort by February 28, 2025.

The Department of Agriculture submitted a request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to review a data collection under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. They seek public comments about the necessity and utility of the data, estimating the burden, and suggestions for improvement. The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) aims to use this information to conduct quick response surveys for Special Nutrition Programs (SNP), which will help in timely decision-making and enable effective program management and compliance. The data collection will involve State, local, and tribal governments, as well as both for-profit and non-profit organizations, and is expected to include 108,597 respondents over three years.