[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 12 (Tuesday, January 30, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E63]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    LEGISLATION REGARDING THE DIRECTOR OF THE INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE

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                     HON. GEORGE R. NETHERCUTT, JR.

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 30, 2001

  Mr. NETHERCUTT. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce legislation 
today with the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee) and the gentleman 
from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth) to elevate the position of Director of the 
Indian Health Service to Assistant Secretary of Health and Human 
Services. Companion legislation is also being introduced today in the 
other body by the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. McCain).
  The Indian Health Service (IHS) is the lead agency in providing 
health care to the more than 550 Indian tribes in the United States. 
Services ranging from facility construction to pediatrics assist 
approximately 1.3 million American Indians and Alaska Natives each 
year. The IHS currently falls under the authority of the Public Health 
Service within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The 
IHS Director is the top administration official charged with carrying 
out the federal trust responsibility for IHS, but he does not report to 
the HHS Secretary.
  Designating the IHS Director as an Assistant Secretary of Indian 
Health would afford IHS a stronger advocacy function within HHS, and 
allow for increased representation during the budget process. Currently 
the ability of the IHS to affect budgetary policy is limited, in part 
by the Director's inability to directly participate in budget 
negotiations. It is also important to note than an Assistant Secretary 
leads the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) although the IHS budget 
exceeds that of BIA.
  This legislation has the strong support of the American Indian and 
Alaska Native community. I urge my colleagues to cosponsor this bill.

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