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
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.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Stronger Engagement for Indian Health Needs Act of 2026
.
Sec. 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
before Snyder Act
)(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.
.