For Immediate Release
July 13, 2022
Contact:
Manu Tupper or Mike Inacay (Schatz) at press@indian.senate.gov
Schatz Leads Committee Passage Of Indian Health Service Director Nomination
Roselyn Tso’s Nomination Advances To Full Senate
WASHINGTON — Today, 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 IHS director is the Department’s most senior, Senate confirmed, federal official in Native health charged with developing IHS healthcare policy, respecting Tribal sovereignty, and promoting Tribal self-determination to fulfill IHS’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 HHS agencies on the federal government’s special political and trust relationship with Native Hawaiians, who receive healthcare services through HHS, 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.
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