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Food Assistance: USDA's Implementation of Legislated Commodity Distribution Reforms

RCED-90-12 Published: Dec 05, 1989. Publicly Released: Dec 05, 1989.
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Highlights

Pursuant to a legislative requirement, GAO reviewed the Department of Agriculture's (USDA) implementation of legislated commodity distribution reforms at the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), and Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS).

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Agriculture The Secretary of Agriculture should direct the Administrator, FNS, in concert with the Administrators, AMS and ASCS, to develop a revised work plan for completing section 3's full implementation under the 1987 act. The plan should detail how and when USDA intends to complete all remaining actions that involve the full implementation of the commodity distribution program reforms required under section 3 of the act in a manner that provides for: (1) uniform and consistent application of the reforms at the federal, state, and local levels; (2) developing and issuing all USDA guidance needed by state distributing agencies to meet their responsibilities under the reforms, including their conduct of required testing and monitoring activities; (3) specifying the responsibilities of FNS, AMS, and ASCS for any actions needed by these agencies to complete USDA formalization of procedures relating to its commodity field testing and recipient agency needs assessments; and (4) specifying deadlines for those agencies to complete their respective responsibilities.
Closed – Implemented
USDA has published interim rules and a final rule has been developed which amends the interim rules based on public comments received. The final rule has been cleared through the agency and is currently being reviewed at OMB.

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Topics

Agricultural productsFederal regulationsstate relationsFood programs for childrenFood relief programsInteragency relationsInternal controlsInventory control systemsMonitoringProgram managementState-administered programs