Stronger Engagement for Indian Health Needs Act of 2025
- house
- senate
- president
Last progress January 28, 2025 (10 months ago)
Introduced on January 28, 2025 by Greg Stanton
Sponsors (3)
House Votes
Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Senate Votes
Presidential Signature
AI Summary
This bill would raise the head of the Indian Health Service to the rank of Assistant Secretary for Indian Health within the Department of Health and Human Services. The goal is to give Native health needs a stronger voice in top HHS leadership.
The Assistant Secretary could appoint a Deputy Assistant Secretary and hire staff needed to run the Service. All mentions of the “Director of the Indian Health Service” in federal law would be treated as referring to the new Assistant Secretary. The bill also updates executive pay scales to add this position at the Assistant Secretary level.
Key points
- Who is affected: American Indian and Alaska Native communities served by IHS, and HHS/IHS leadership.
- What changes: Elevates the IHS leader to Assistant Secretary; updates reporting language; allows a Deputy Assistant Secretary; updates laws to reflect the new title; adjusts pay levels to include the new Assistant Secretary position.