I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2535 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 6, 2023 Mr. Stanton (for himself and Mr. Joyce of Ohio ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources , and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL 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 2023 . 2. Assistant Secretary for Indian Health (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 2023 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, with the approval of the Secretary, may appoint a Deputy Assistant Secretary and may employ and prescribe the functions of such officers and employees, including attorneys, as are 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 2023 . (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. .