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Open Recommendations

Tribal Food Security: Opportunities Exist to Address Challenges in Federal Nutrition Programs
GAO-24-106218
Jul 29, 2024
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7 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Congress Congress should consider explicitly addressing in statute the role of Tribes in the administration of Food and Nutrition Service nutrition assistance programs, including specifying that states consult with Tribes when administering nutrition programs in tribal communities. (Matter for Consideration 1)
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When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Agriculture The Secretary of Agriculture should ensure that ERS includes available national-level American Indian/Alaska Native food security data in its flagship annual report on household food security. (Recommendation 1)
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When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Agriculture The Secretary of Agriculture should ensure that FNS eliminates the use of visual observation as an allowable means to determine participant race and ethnicity for the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, Commodity Supplemental Food Program, and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. (Recommendation 2)
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When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Agriculture The Secretary of Agriculture should ensure that FNS improves the verification process for confirming that applicants are not dually participating in the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, per program requirements, so applicants can be enrolled in a timely fashion. For example, FNS could identify ways to facilitate appropriate communication and information sharing among relevant entities. (Recommendation 3)
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When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Agriculture The Secretary of Agriculture should ensure that FNS studies the impact of the prohibition against dual participation in the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, including any obstacles to food security posed by the process for switching from one program to another, and shares the results of the study with Congress. (Recommendation 4)
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When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Agriculture The Secretary of Agriculture should ensure that FNS systematically identifies gaps in outreach to tribal communities about FNS programs, determines how to best address those gaps, and takes appropriate steps. (Recommendation 5)
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When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Federal Fisheries Management: Efforts to Reduce and Monitor Unintentional Catch and Harm Need Better Tracking
GAO-24-106336
Jul 10, 2024
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4 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
National Marine Fisheries Service The Assistant Administrator for NMFS should gather information from across the regions to identify any additional resources needed to support fisheries observers, and communicate these needs to relevant stakeholders, including Congress. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
National Marine Fisheries Service The Assistant Administrator for NMFS should develop an updated National Bycatch Reduction Strategy Implementation Plan with measurable performance goals tied to specific time frames. (Recommendation 2)
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When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
National Marine Fisheries Service The Assistant Administrator for NMFS should develop a process for tracking progress toward the performance goals in the updated National Bycatch Reduction Strategy Implementation Plan and use the information to guide agency decision-making. (Recommendation 3)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
National Marine Fisheries Service The Assistant Administrator for NMFS should develop a comprehensive written plan for reporting on bycatch estimates from the enhanced Fisheries One Stop Shop database, including how the agency will communicate over time on bycatch levels, trends, and information gaps. (Recommendation 4)
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When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

DOD Food Program: Additional Actions Needed to Implement, Oversee, and Evaluate Nutrition Efforts for Service Members
GAO-24-106155
Jun 24, 2024
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16 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of the Army The Secretary of the Army should establish guidance that addresses what steps dining facilities should take to implement each of the required Go for Green® program elements. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of the Navy The Secretary of the Navy should ensure the Commandant of the Marine Corps establishes guidance that addresses what steps dining facilities should take to implement each of the required Go for Green® elements in the Marine Corps' Fueled to Fight® program. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of the Navy The Secretary of the Navy should establish guidance that addresses what steps dining facilities should take to implement each of the required Go for Green® program elements. (Recommendation 3)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of the Air Force The Secretary of the Air Force should establish guidance that addresses what steps dining facilities should take to implement each of the required Go for Green® program elements. (Recommendation 4)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should evaluate and, as needed, clarify or adjust responsibilities for leadership of the forthcoming Defense Feeding and Nutrition Board to guide food transformation efforts. (Recommendation 5)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should ensure the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, in coordination with the forthcoming Defense Feeding and Nutrition Board, develops the congressionally directed plan to increase access to healthy food on installations. (Recommendation 6)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Food Safety: FDA Should Finalize Plans to Implement Its Rule to Help Trace Source of Outbreaks
GAO-24-106563
Jan 18, 2024
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Food and Drug Administration The FDA Commissioner should direct the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition to finalize and document an implementation plan to help the agency achieve its regulatory goal of compliance with the food traceability rule by January 20, 2026. Such a plan should include FDA's resource needs, strategies for facilitating compliance with the rule, and detailed plans for communicating with and educating regulated entities, nonfederal regulatory partners, and FDA regulatory staff about the rule's requirements. (Recommendation 1)
Open
FDA agreed with this recommendation. We will update the status of the recommendation when we receive information from the agency regarding their actions to implement it.
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