News Release
U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
Yesterday, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, led a business meeting to advance President Biden’s nominee, Ms. Roselyn Tso, to serve as the director of the Indian Health Service (IHS) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Ms. Tso’s nomination is now ready for consideration by the full Senate.
The Indian Health Service director is the Department’s most senior, Senate confirmed, federal official in Native health charged with developing Indian Health Service healthcare policy, respecting Tribal sovereignty, and promoting Tribal self-determination to fulfill Indian Health Service’s mission to improve health outcomes in Indian Country. Schatz led a committee hearing on Tso’s nomination in May and reviewed letters in support of her nomination from Tribes and Tribal organizations.
“From her careful handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Navajo service area, to her dedication and commitment to sustaining and improving Native communities’ health outcomes, it is clear that Ms. Tso is qualified to serve in this position,” said Chairman Schatz. “Notably, Ms. Tso committed to being responsible for educating other U.S. Department of Health and Human Services agencies on the federal government’s special political and trust relationship with Native Hawaiians, who receive healthcare services through U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and to work on improving healthcare outcomes for Native Hawaiians. I urge my fellow members of the Committee to support Ms. Tso’s nomination.”
Tso’s nomination passed the Committee by voice vote.
