Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Stronger Engagement for Indian Health Needs Act of 2026”.
Stronger Engagement for Indian Health Needs Act of 2026
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.
Sec. 2 Assistant Secretary for Indian Health
in subsection (a)—
in paragraph (2)—
in the paragraph heading, by striking “Director” and inserting “Assistant Secretary for Indian Health”;
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)”;
in the second sentence, by striking “The Director shall report” and inserting “The Assistant Secretary shall report directly”;
in the third sentence, by striking “the Director” and inserting “the Assistant Secretary”; and
in the fourth sentence, by striking “A Director” and inserting “An Assistant Secretary”;
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”;
in paragraph (4), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking “Director” and inserting “Assistant Secretary”; and
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.”
in subsection (c)—
in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking “Director” and inserting “Assistant Secretary”;
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
in paragraph (3)—
in subparagraph (B), by inserting “(commonly known as the “Snyder Act”)” before “(25 U.S.C. 13)”; and
in subparagraph (E), by striking “(25 U.S.C. 450 et seq.)” and inserting “(25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.)”;
in subsection (d)(1), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking “Director” and inserting “Assistant Secretary”; and
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.”
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.
Conforming amendments—
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”.
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”.
Rate of basic pay—
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)”.
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.”.