Resolution to Support the Elevation of the Director of the Indian Health Service to Assistant Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services

WHEREAS, the National Indian Health Board (NIHB), established in 1972, serving all Federally recognized American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) Tribal governments by advocating for the improvement of health care delivery to AI/ANs, as well as upholding the Federal government’s trust responsibility to AI/AN Tribal governments, does hereby establish and submit the following resolution; and

WHEREAS, the Indian Health Service is administratively located in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); and

WHEREAS, the Director of the Indian Health Service, the top administrative official charged with carrying out the federal responsibility for Indian health, does not report directly to the Secretary of HHS; and

WHEREAS, the NIHB believes that Indian Health needs are best served when the Secretary of HHS hears directly from the lead advocate for Indian Health programs; and

WHEREAS, recent chairs of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee have recognized the need for a federal advocate for Indian health; and have introduced bills that provide for the elevation of the Director of the Indian Health Service to Assistant Secretary of the HHS; and

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the NIHB does hereby support legislative action which would elevate the Director of Indian Health Service to Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NIHB calls upon the Department of Health and Human Services to support this change in structure which is in keeping with the Agency’s duty to the Tribes, and honors the federal Trust Responsibility; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that this resolution shall be the policy of the NIHB until it is withdrawn or modified by subsequent resolution.