S. 3767

119 S3767 IS: Stronger Engagement for Indian Health Needs Act of 2026
 U.S. Senate
 2026-02-03
 text/xml
 EN
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 II  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  S. 3767  IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES   February 3, 2026   Ms. Cortez Masto  (for herself and  Mr. Rounds ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the  Committee on Indian Affairs    A BILL
To amend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to elevate the position of Director of the Indian Health Service within the Department of Health and Human Services to Assistant Secretary for Indian Health, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Stronger Engagement for Indian Health Needs Act of 2026  .
2.
Assistant Secretary for Indian Health
(a)
In general
Section 601 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act ( 25 U.S.C. 1661 ) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (a)—
(A)
in paragraph (2)—
(i)
in the paragraph heading, by striking
Director   and inserting
Assistant Secretary for Indian Health  ;
(ii)
in the first sentence, by striking  a Director  and inserting  an Assistant Secretary for Indian Health (referred to in this section as the  Assistant Secretary ) ;
(iii)
in the second sentence, by striking  The Director shall report  and inserting  The Assistant Secretary shall report directly ;
(iv)
in the third sentence, by striking  the Director  and inserting  the Assistant Secretary ; and
(v)
in the fourth sentence, by striking  A Director  and inserting  An Assistant Secretary ;
(B)
in paragraph (3), by striking  date of enactment of the Indian Health Care Improvement Reauthorization and Extension Act of 2009 shall serve as Director  and inserting  date of enactment of the  Stronger Engagement for Indian Health Needs Act of 2026  shall serve as Assistant Secretary ;
(C)
in paragraph (4), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking  Director  and inserting  Assistant Secretary ; and
(D)
by adding at the end the following:
(5)
Deputy Assistant Secretary; other officers and employees
The Assistant Secretary, with the approval of the Secretary, may—
(A)
appoint a Deputy Assistant Secretary; and
(B)
employ and prescribe the functions of such officers and employees, including attorneys, as are necessary to administer the activities of the Service.
 ;
(2)
in subsection (c)—
(A)
in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking  Director  and inserting  Assistant Secretary ;
(B)
in paragraph (1), by striking  date of enactment of the Indian Health Care Improvement Reauthorization and Extension Act of 2009  and inserting  date of enactment of the  Stronger Engagement for Indian Health Needs Act of 2026  ; and
(C)
in paragraph (3)—
(i)
in subparagraph (B), by inserting  (commonly known as the  Snyder Act )  before  ( 25 U.S.C. 13 ) ; and
(ii)
in subparagraph (E), by striking  ( 25 U.S.C. 450 et seq. )  and inserting  ( 25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq. ) ;
(3)
in subsection (d)(1), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking  Director  and inserting  Assistant Secretary ; and
(4)
by adding at the end the following:
(e)
Salary
The salary of the Assistant Secretary shall be paid from amounts in the Indian Health Services account of the Service.
 .
(b)
References
Any reference to the Director of the Indian Health Service in any Federal law, Executive order, rule, regulation, or delegation of authority, or in any document of or relating to the Director of the Indian Health Service, shall be deemed to be a reference to the Assistant Secretary for Indian Health.
(c)
Conforming amendments
(1)
Section 603(b) of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act ( 25 U.S.C. 1663(b) ) is amended by striking  Office of the Director  and inserting  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Indian Health .
(2)
Section 604(b) of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act ( 25 U.S.C. 1663a(b) ) is amended, in each of paragraphs (2) and (3), by striking  Office of the Director  and inserting  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Indian Health .
(d)
Rate of basic pay
(1)
Positions at level IV
Section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking  Assistant Secretaries of Health and Human Services (6)  and inserting  Assistant Secretaries of Health and Human Services (7) .
(2)
Positions at level V
Section 5316 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking  Director, Indian Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services. .