WASHINGTON, D.C.— Representatives Greg Stanton, D-Ariz., and David Joyce, R-Ohio, reintroduced their bipartisan Stronger Engagement for Indian Health Needs Act this week, legislation to elevate the current role of the Indian Health Service Director to Assistant Secretary for Indian Health within the Department of Health and Human Services, with the goal of improving Native American health outcomes.
Specifically, the Senate-confirmed position will bring greater attention within the Administration to addressing the health care status and needs of American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs). The Assistant Secretary would work to enhance the government-to-government relationship between Indian Tribes and the United States, increase access and collaboration among agencies within HHS as Indian health policy and budgets are developed, bring much needed parity to Indian health care needs, and ensure these issues are a priority in current and future administrations.
“The federal government has a trust obligation to provide quality health care to Tribal members, care that best fits their cultural and health needs,” Rep. Stanton said.“Our bill does what should have been done years ago—elevates and centers native voices when it comes to making federal policy that affects American Indians and Alaska Natives.”
“I am proud to introduce the Stronger Engagement for Indian Health Needs Act with Congressman Stanton. American Indian and Alaska Native communities continue to face barriers to accessing quality healthcare, as their federal health programs are plagued by challenges,” Rep. Joyce said. “By elevating the Indian Health Service Director position to Assistant Secretary for Indian Health within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, we are making sure tribal communities are in a greater position to advocate for their healthcare needs in the federal government. This bipartisan legislation represents an important step as we seek to fulfill the federal government’s sacred trust and treaty obligations to American Indians and Alaska Natives.”
The late Sen. John McCain championed this proposal, first introducing legislation in the mid-1990s. It passed the Senate four times but died in the House. The issue has not been revisited since 2010, when efforts were made to include it as part of the Affordable Care Act. Stanton and Joyce introduced similar legislation the last two Congresses.
Leading Native American advocacy groups—including the National Congress of American Indians, National Indian Health Board, and National Council of Urban Indian Health—support this bipartisan effort.
“It is time for the government to recognize the importance of Indian health and uphold the federal trust responsibility to provide healthcare to all Native people. The elevation of the IHS Director to Assistant Secretary will uplift our voices in the Administration and is a critical step in improving health outcomes in Indian Country. We thank Representatives Greg Stanton and David Joyce, and we urge Congressional leaders to support this vital legislation,” Walter Murillo, a member of the Choctaw Nation, said. Murillo is President of the National Council of Urban Indian Health and Chief Executive Officer of Native Health, in Phoenix, Arizona.
“The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) strongly supports the reintroduction of the Stronger Engagement for Indian Health Needs Act by Congressman Greg Stanton, which would elevate the Director of the Indian Health Service to an Assistant Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Representation at the highest levels of government not only reaffirms the federal trust responsibility with respect to Indian health care, but, as we have seen time and again, it is also critical to ensuring that the federal government effectively serves the broad and diverse needs of Indian Country,” NCAI President Mark Macarro said.