H.R. 741
Stronger Engagement for Indian Health Needs Act of 2025
Sponsor: Greg Stanton
3 cosponsors
Official summary
Written by the Congressional Research Service.
Stronger Engagement for Indian Health Needs Act of 2025
This bill elevates the current position of the Director of the Indian Health Service within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to Assistant Secretary for Indian Health within HHS.
Text of the bill
Where this section came from
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Jan 28, 2025 · Introduced in House Referred to House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Jan 28 Referred to House Committee on Natural Resources, Jan 28
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Aug 27, 2026 · Reported in House Marked up by House Committee on Natural Resources, May 14 Reported by House Committee on Natural Resources, Aug 27 Committee members' individual votes aren't in our records.
… 11 unchanged passages …
(5) Deputy Assistant Secretary. The Assistant Secretary
,
may— (A)
with the approval of the Secretary,
may
appoint a Deputy Assistant Secretary
;
and
may
(B)
employ
consistent
and
with
prescribe
applicable
the
law,
functions
utilize
of such
officers and employees
, including
of
attorneys,
the Department
as
are
necessary to administer the activities of the Service.
… 12 unchanged passages …
What is a markup?
A markup is a committee meeting where members go through a bill and vote on changes before sending it to the full chamber.
(a) Establishment. Section 601(a) of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1661(a)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking tribes and inserting Tribes;
(2) in paragraph (2)—
(A) by striking a Director and inserting an Assistant Secretary for Indian Health (in this section referred to as the Assistant Secretary);
(B) by striking The Director shall report and inserting The Assistant Secretary shall report directly;
(C) by striking the Director and inserting the Assistant Secretary; and
(D) by striking A Director and inserting An Assistant Secretary;
(3) 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 2025 shall serve as Assistant Secretary;
(4) in paragraph (4), in the matter before subparagraph (A), by striking Director and inserting Assistant Secretary; and
(5) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
(5) Deputy Assistant Secretary. The Assistant Secretary may—
(A) with the approval of the Secretary, appoint a Deputy Assistant Secretary; and
(B) consistent with applicable law, utilize officers and employees of the Department as necessary to administer the activities of the Service.
(b) Duties. Section 601(c) of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1661(c)) is amended—
(1) in the matter before paragraph (1), by striking Director and inserting Assistant Secretary; and
(2) 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 2025.
(c) Authority. Section 601(d)(1) of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1661(d)(1)) is amended in the matter before subparagraph (A), by striking Director and inserting Assistant Secretary.
(d) References. Section 601 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1661) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
(e) 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 refer to the Assistant Secretary.
(e) 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..