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119-hr-741119th CongressWALLET

Stronger Engagement for Indian Health Needs Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Stanton, Greg [D-AZ-4]

Passed House

Summary

Elevates the Indian Health Service's top leader to an Assistant Secretary within the Department of Health and Human Services. This change recasts reporting, authority, and pay for the role and authorizes a Deputy and use of HHS staff.

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  • Indian Health Service leadership: Replaces the Director with an Assistant Secretary for Indian Health who reports directly to the HHS Secretary and assumes the duties and authority formerly tied to the Director.
  • Staffing and authority: The Assistant Secretary may appoint a Deputy Assistant Secretary with the Secretary’s approval and may use Department officers and employees to administer Service activities.
  • Legal harmonization: Any federal law, executive order, rule, regulation, or document that refers to the Director of the Indian Health Service will be read as referring to the Assistant Secretary.
  • Federal pay changes: The position is moved into the Level IV pay band and the old Director pay listing is removed from Level V.
  • Funding: This section does not enact new appropriations.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Higher pay band for IHS leader

This bill would add the Assistant Secretary for Indian Health to Executive Schedule Level IV. It would remove the old "Director, Indian Health Service" listing from Level V. This would place the top IHS job in a higher federal pay band. The change would take effect upon enactment.

New Assistant Secretary to lead Indian Health Service

This bill would replace the Indian Health Service Director with an Assistant Secretary for Indian Health at HHS. The Assistant Secretary would report directly to the HHS Secretary. With the Secretary’s approval, the Assistant Secretary would be allowed to appoint a Deputy and use Department staff to run the Service. All federal references to the IHS "Director" would be treated as the "Assistant Secretary." The change would take effect upon enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Stanton, Greg [D-AZ-4]

AZ • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Joyce, David P. [R-OH-14]

    OH • R

    Sponsored 1/28/2025

  • Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 3/14/2025

  • Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 8/3/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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