{"id":21967,"date":"2022-03-09T20:52:39","date_gmt":"2022-03-10T01:52:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/News\/?p=21967"},"modified":"2022-09-27T15:14:50","modified_gmt":"2022-09-27T19:14:50","slug":"a-historic-nomination-indian-health-service-finally-on-track-for-new-leadership","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2022\/03\/09\/a-historic-nomination-indian-health-service-finally-on-track-for-new-leadership\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;A historic nomination&#8217;: Indian Health Service finally on track for new leadership"},"content":{"rendered":" <a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2022\/03\/09\/a-historic-nomination-indian-health-service-finally-on-track-for-new-leadership\/jilljimroselyntsojonathannez\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-21973\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"960\" data-attachment-id=\"21973\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2022\/03\/09\/a-historic-nomination-indian-health-service-finally-on-track-for-new-leadership\/jilljimroselyntsojonathannez\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/10\/jilljimroselyntsojonathannez.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1280,960\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.4&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;iPhone XS&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1564410652&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;6&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;16&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0083333333333333&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Jill Jim, Roselyn Tso, Jonathan Nez\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;Jill Jim, Roselyn Tso, Jonathan Nez&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;From left: Navajo Department of Health Executive Director Dr. Jill Jim, Indian Health Service Navajo Area Director Roselyn Tso and Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez. Photo courtesy Navajo Nation Office of President and Vice President&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/10\/jilljimroselyntsojonathannez-1024x768.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/10\/jilljimroselyntsojonathannez.jpg\" alt=\"Jill Jim, Roselyn Tso, Jonathan Nez\" class=\"size-full wp-image-21973\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"figure-caption\"> From left: Navajo Department of Health Executive Director Dr. Jill Jim, Indian Health Service Navajo Area Director Roselyn Tso and Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez. Photo courtesy Navajo Nation Office of President and Vice President<\/figcaption>\r\n<div class=\"h3-responsive font-weight-bold\">&#8216;A historic nomination&#8217;: Indian Health Service finally on track for new leadership<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"date\">Wednesday, March 9, 2022<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"byline\">By Acee Agoyo<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"source\">Indianz.Com<\/div>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nWASHINGTON, D.C. &#8212; Tribes and tribal organizations are welcoming the nomination of a new leader for the <a href=https:\/\/www.ihs.gov\/>Indian Health Service<\/a>, the federal agency responsible for providing care for more than 2 million people in their communities.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nRoselyn Tso is a citizen of the <a href=https:\/\/www.navajo-nsn.gov\/>Navajo Nation<\/a> who has worked for the IHS since 1984. If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, she would be the first Navajo citizen to serve as director of the agency and only the second woman ever in the <a href=https:\/\/www.ihs.gov\/aboutihs\/keyleaders\/>leadership role<\/a>.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n\u201cThis is a historic nomination put forth by the Biden-Harris administration,&#8221;   <a href=https:\/\/twitter.com\/NNPrezNez>Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez<\/a> said in a  <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/12\/nnopvp030922.pdf>news release<\/a> on Wednesday\r\n<P><\/p>\r\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\u201cThis is a historic nomination put forth by the Biden-Harris Administration&quot;: Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez is praising nomination Roselyn Tso, a Navajo citizen, to be director of Indian Health Service. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/IHSgov?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@IHSgov<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/IHSDirector?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@IHSDirector<\/a><br><br>Pictured: Dr. Jill Jim, Roselyn Tso, @NNPrezNez <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/mIMj88c4Fp\">pic.twitter.com\/mIMj88c4Fp<\/a><\/p>&mdash; indianz.com (@indianz) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/indianz\/status\/1501591097147019270?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 9, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n Tso became director of the <a href=https:\/\/www.ihs.gov\/navajo\/>Navajo Area of the IHS<\/a> in <a href=https:\/\/www.ihs.gov\/newsroom\/pressreleases\/2019pressreleases\/ihs-announces-new-navajo-area-director\/>July 2019<\/a>. Several  months later, the largest reservation in the United States saw the arrival of the coronavirus, which has affected her people at disproportionate rates.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nBut Nez said Tso&#8217;s efforts have helped keep people safe on the Navajo Nation. The tribe has one of the highest rates of vaccination for COVID-19 and case numbers continue to trend downward, <a href=https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/covid19\/2022\/03\/09\/navajo-nation-town-hall-arizona-new-mexico-utah-125\/>two years into the pandemic<\/a>.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n&#8220;Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, her leadership, expertise, and compassion have helped to reduce the spread of this modern-day monster and to save lives,&#8221; Nez said.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n<a href=https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/amber.kanazbah.crotty\/>Amber Kanazbah Crotty<\/a>, a delegate to the <a href=https:\/\/www.navajonationcouncil.org>Navajo Nation Council<\/a>, also hailed the IHS nomination. She described Tso as one of the &#8220;matriarchs&#8221; of the tribe and a &#8220;strong voice&#8221; for Native women.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n\u201cThe Navajo people are proud that one of our matriarchs was appointed by the Biden-Harris Administration into a key leadership position,&#8221; said Crotty, who was one of the first women to serve on the tribe&#8217;s legislative body.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n &#8220;She is an outstanding representative and a strong voice for Indigenous women across the country,&#8221; Crotty added. &#8220;We look forward to working with Ms. Tso and the Indian Health Service to provide the best healthcare for our Navajo families during this pandemic.&#8221;\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n<div class=row><div class=col-7><a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2022\/03\/09\/a-historic-nomination-indian-health-service-finally-on-track-for-new-leadership\/roselyntso\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-21977\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1400\" data-attachment-id=\"21977\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2022\/03\/09\/a-historic-nomination-indian-health-service-finally-on-track-for-new-leadership\/roselyntso\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/10\/roselyntso.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1000,1400\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;5.6&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS 5D Mark III&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1474974024&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;142&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;800&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.016666666666667&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Roselyn Tso\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;Roselyn Tso&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Roselyn Tso. Photo courtesy Indian Health Service.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/10\/roselyntso-731x1024.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/10\/roselyntso.jpg\" alt=\"Roselyn Tso\"   class=\"size-full wp-image-21977\" \/><\/a><\/div>\r\n<div class=\"col-5 align-self-end\"><figcaption class=\"figure-caption\"> Roselyn Tso. Photo courtesy Indian Health Service.<\/figcaption><\/div><\/div>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nThe <a href=https:\/\/twitter.com\/indianz\/status\/1501592718174216202>announcement from the White House<\/a> on Wednesday comes more than a year into the administration of President Joe Biden. On his first day in office on January 20, 2021, he asked the <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/01\/15\/director-of-indian-health-service-steps-down-at-request-of-president-elect-joe-biden\/>then-director of the IHS to step down<\/a>, an otherwise common request in any new presidency.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nBut as the COVID-19 pandemic continued to take a <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/11\/09\/a-long-journey-indian-country-continues-to-suffer-from-covid-19\/>disproportionate toll on American Indians and Alaska Natives<\/a>, tribes and their advocates became more and more worried about the lack of a permanent director for the IHS. On Monday, in fact the <a href=https:\/\/www.nihb.org\/>National Indian Health Board<\/a>  raised the issue with key members of Congress, warning of the wide-ranging impacts  of the leadership void.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n&#8220;The absence of a director impedes the ability of both the tribes, the administration as well as Congress to carry out a bold vision for the Indian, Tribal and Urban, or I\/T\/U, system for which the IHS is responsible,&#8221; \r\nWilliam Smith,  the chair of the NIHB, said in the letter to <a href=https:\/\/www.schatz.senate.gov\/>Sen. Brian Schatz<\/a> (D-Hawaii) and <a href=https:\/\/www.murkowski.senate.gov\/>Sen. Lisa Murkowski<\/a> (R-Alaska), the chair and vice chair, respectively, of the <a href=https:\/\/indian.senate.gov\/>Senate Committee on Indian Affairs<\/a>.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nSpeculation about the IHS had grown in recent weeks, as <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2022\/01\/26\/its-really-time-speculation-grows-about-leadership-at-indian-health-service\/>tribal leaders wondered what was taking Biden  so long<\/a> to nominate a director for the agency. But  with the announcement in hand, Schatz is promising  to take a close look at Tso, who will go before his committee for a  forthcoming nomination hearing.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n\u201cThe Indian Health Service Director plays a critical role in raising the health status of Native peoples and upholding the federal government\u2019s trust responsibility to Native communities,\u201d <a href=https:\/\/twitter.com\/indianz\/status\/1501604191634137095>Schatz said<\/a> in a news release. \u201cI am committed to seeking Indian Country\u2019s input on Ms. Tso\u2019s nomination as the committee carefully considers her qualifications.\u201d\r\n<P><\/p>\r\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">&quot;We need an IHS Director like Roselyn Tso to be appointed to be full strength in meeting these challenges&quot;: Dr. Aaron Payment, Chair of Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, lauds nomination of Roselyn Tso to be director of Indian Health Service. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/IHSgov?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@IHSgov<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/IHSDirector?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@IHSDirector<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/qhCTOU3caX\">pic.twitter.com\/qhCTOU3caX<\/a><\/p>&mdash; indianz.com (@indianz) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/indianz\/status\/1501622915309223939?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 9, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nDr. Aaron Payment, the chairperson of the <a href=https:\/\/www.saulttribe.com\/>Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians<\/a>, said he has been urging fellow tribal leaders to reach out to the committee to express support for Tso. He too highlighted the <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2019\/02\/06\/ihs-leadership-crisis.asp>leadership crisis at the IHS<\/a> which began toward the end of the Barack Obama administration and continued into the era of Donald Trump.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n&#8220;As we begin to exit the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is still so much work ahead of us to transition back to the other challenges facing Indian Country,&#8221; <a href=https:\/\/twitter.com\/indianz\/status\/1501622915309223939>Payment said in a statement<\/a> outlining substance abuse, suicide, intergenerational trauma  and diabetes as among the major issues facing tribes and the IHS.\r\n<P><\/p>\r\n&#8220;The previously administration did not submit an IHS nominee until the last six months,&#8221; Payment noted. The prior director wasn&#8217;t confirmed until April 2020, after <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2020\/03\/05\/indian-health-service-nominee-in-limbo-a.asp>tribes complained about the lack of movement<\/a> in the nation&#8217;s capital.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n &#8220;A year is already too long such that now that we have an extremely well qualified American Indian as nominee,&#8221; Payment said of  the wait for Tso in the new Biden era.\r\n<P><\/P><div class=\"mt-1 mb-1\"><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block; text-align:center;\" data-ad-layout=\"in-article\" data-ad-format=\"fluid\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-8411603009680747\" data-ad-slot=\"6394965691\"><\/ins><script>(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/script><\/div><p><\/p>\r\nIn addition to issues of care and well-being in Indian Country, Payment said fully funding the IHS &#8212; and doing so on a <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2022\/03\/08\/everything-is-pressing-indian-country-funding-mired-in-partisan-stalemate\/>mandatory basis, through advance  appropriations<\/a>  &#8212; represents another significant concern. He pointed to Tso&#8217;s work on the agency&#8217;s budget, including fulfilling contracts signed with tribal nations, as key experience going forward.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n&#8220;I have worked directly with Roselyn on the <a href=https:\/\/www.ihs.gov\/tribalconsultation\/workgroups\/>IHS Contract Support Cost Workgroup<\/a> and found her to be a strong advocate for Indian County along with high-level technical knowledge necessary to find practicable funding solutions that honor the treaty and trust obligation.,&#8221; Payment said.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nThe IHS was officially <a href=https:\/\/www.nlm.nih.gov\/exhibition\/if_you_knew\/ifyouknew_09.html>created in 1955<\/a> as part  of the <a href=https:\/\/www.hhs.gov\/>Department of Health and Human Services<\/a>. Previously, Indian health care was provided <a href=https:\/\/www.bia.gov\/>Bureau of Indian Affairs<\/a> at the <a href=https:\/\/www.doi.gov\/>Department of the Interior<\/a>, the federal agency with the most trust and treaty responsibilities to tribes and their citizens.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nDespite being mandated by treaties, legal statutes and court decisions to provide care to American Indians and Alaska Natives, the IHS   has historically suffered from under-funding. The <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2019\/06\/05\/congressional-panel-focuses-on-broken-pr.asp>landmark Broken Promises report<\/a>, issued by  the <a href=https:\/\/www.usccr.gov\/>U.S. Commission on Civil Rights<\/a>, pointed out that the agency&#8217;s budget only meets half of the needs in tribal communities.\r\n<p><\/P>\r\n&#8220;We must always refer back to our histories, treaties  and agreements,&#8221;  <a href=https:\/\/www.ncai.org\/>National Congress of Americans<\/a> said in the annual <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/02\/26\/national-congress-of-american-indians-state-of-indian-nations-soin2021\/>State of Indian Nations address<\/a> last month.  \r\n<p><\/p>\r\n&#8220;The 2018 Broken Promises report illuminates the vast needs in Indian Country  &#8212; everything from joblessness to poverty, to health care, to public safety, to education,&#8221; said Sharp, who serves as vice president of the <a href=https:\/\/www.quinaultindiannation.com\/>Quinault Nation<\/a>.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">What&#39;s in the $1.5 trillion <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Omnibus?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Omnibus<\/a> appropriations?<br><br>The bill includes $73.4 million for urban Indian health and $6.6 billion overall for the Indian Health Service.<br><br>Details from the National Council of Urban Indian Health <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NCUIH_Official?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@NCUIH_Official<\/a>. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/UrbanIndians?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#UrbanIndians<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/vLCRKWVGfg\">https:\/\/t.co\/vLCRKWVGfg<\/a><\/p>&mdash; indianz.com (@indianz) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/indianz\/status\/1501684473099919362?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 9, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nThe tide is slowly beginning to change, much of it due to constant advocacy from organizations like NCAI, NIHB and the National Council of Urban Indian Health. The COVID-19 pandemic also put focus on the need to fund the IHS at an adequate level, with Congress investing historic amounts in the agency in 2020 and 2021.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nThe trend continues with the release of the <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2022\/03\/09\/omnibus-federal-funding-bill-moving-forward-in-congress\/>$1.5 trillion omnibus appropriations bill<\/a>. Released on the overnight hours on Wednesday, the 2,741-page package provides $6.6 billion for the IHS for fiscal year 2022, the <a href=https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/covid19\/2022\/03\/09\/national-council-of-urban-indian-health-ncuih-12\/>NCUIH said in a policy alert<\/a> later in the day.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nThe figure in <a href=https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/117th-congress\/house-bill\/2471>H.R.2471<\/a> represents an increase of   6.3 percent from  the prior year, according to the NCUIH. Yet while the amount is &#8220;historic,&#8221; it still falls far below the  $12.8 billion supported by the <a href=https:\/\/www.nihb.org\/legislative\/budget_formulation.php>IHS Tribal Budget Formulation Workgroup<\/a>, the organization pointed out.\r\n<P><\/P> \r\n&#8220;Unfortunately, the final amount still falls well short of fully funding the Indian Health Service to properly provide health care services for all American Indians and Alaska Natives in the United States to meet the trust responsibility,&#8221; the NCUIH said. &#8220;Additionally, the bill does not include advance appropriations despite robust advocacy from tribes and urban Indian organizations.&#8221;\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">&quot;The agency must have a permanent, competent leader who is capable and willing to advocate and act with diplomacy and tenacity, to respect Tribal nations&quot;: National Indian Health Board on nomination of Roselyn Tso to be Director of the Indian Health Service. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NIHB1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@NIHB1<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/IHSgov?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@IHSgov<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/XAS06h6WLt\">pic.twitter.com\/XAS06h6WLt<\/a><\/p>&mdash; indianz.com (@indianz) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/indianz\/status\/1501705601734397953?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 9, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nThe IHS is currently led by Elizabeth Fowler, a citizen of the <a href=https:\/\/comanchenation.com\/>Comanche Nation<\/a>. She has been serving as director in an &#8220;acting&#8221; capacity since January 2021 and addressing COVID-19 has been one of her top priorities.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nThe most recent Senate-confirmed IHS director was Michael Weahkee, a citizen of the <a href=https:\/\/www.ashiwi.org\/>Pueblo of Zuni<\/a>. He rose to the leadership position after Trump&#8217;s first pick, Robert Weaver, a citizen of the <a href=https:\/\/www.quapawtribe.com\/>Quapaw Nation<\/a>, was <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2018\/02\/22\/failed-indian-health-service-nominee-las.asp>forced out following questions<\/a> about his professional and educational background.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nBy then, the IHS had gone without a permanent leader since the  final years of the Obama presidency. The prior director, Yvette Roubideaux, a citizen of the <a href=https:\/\/www.rosebudsiouxtribe-nsn.gov\/>Rosebud Sioux Tribe<\/a>, had been nominated for a second term but stepped down from the post in February 2015. \r\n<P><\/P>\r\nSince then, the IHS has been without a permanent leader for six of the past seven years.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/Ca5EbnCu-SH\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\"><div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/Ca5EbnCu-SH\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <div style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\"> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\"><svg width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewBox=\"0 0 60 60\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"><g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><g transform=\"translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)\" fill=\"#000000\"><g><path d=\"M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631\"><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div><div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\"> <div style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\"><div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: auto;\"> <div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div><\/div><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/a><p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/Ca5EbnCu-SH\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by Indianz.Com (@indianz)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote> <script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n<div class=\"h4-responsive\">Related Stories<\/div>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2022\/03\/09\/omnibus-federal-funding-bill-moving-forward-in-congress\/\" title=\"Omnibus federal funding bill moving forward in Congress\">Omnibus federal funding bill moving forward in Congress<\/a> (March 9, 2022)<BR>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2022\/03\/08\/everything-is-pressing-indian-country-funding-mired-in-partisan-stalemate\/\" title=\"\u2018Everything is pressing\u2019: Indian Country funding mired in partisan stalemate\">\u2018Everything is pressing\u2019: Indian Country funding mired in partisan stalemate<\/a> (March 8, 2022)<BR>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2022\/01\/26\/its-really-time-speculation-grows-about-leadership-at-indian-health-service\/\" title=\"\u2018It\u2019s really time\u2019: Speculation grows about leadership at Indian Health Service\">\u2018It\u2019s really time\u2019: Speculation grows about leadership at Indian Health Service<\/a> (January 26, 2022)","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The federal agency charged with providing health care to more than 2 million American Indians and Alaska Natives has gone without a permanent leader for six of the last seven years.","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":21973,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_vp_format_video_url":"","_vp_image_focal_point":[],"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[19,20,1,14],"tags":[869,590,363,214,391,117,925,1085,170,2600,5,256,118,75,1165,223,1123,2597,248,210,53,28,211,138,982,24,7,367,182,425,623,1031,544,2599,213,193,189,1198,591,2115,154,6,2601,1407,44,1897],"class_list":["post-21967","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health","category-indian-trust","category-national","category-politics","tag-117th","tag-aaron-payment","tag-amber-kanazbah-crotty","tag-appropriations","tag-barack-obama","tag-bia","tag-brian-schatz","tag-comanche","tag-congress","tag-contract-support-costs","tag-coronavirus","tag-diabetes","tag-doi","tag-donald-trump","tag-elizabeth-fowler","tag-fawn-sharp","tag-fy2022","tag-h-r-2471","tag-hhs","tag-ihs","tag-joe-biden","tag-jonathan-nez","tag-lisa-murkowski","tag-meetings","tag-michael-weahkee","tag-navajo","tag-ncai","tag-ncuih","tag-pueblo","tag-quapaw","tag-quinault","tag-robert-weaver","tag-rosebud-sioux","tag-roselyn-tso","tag-scia","tag-self-determination","tag-self-governance","tag-soin","tag-soo-tribe","tag-suicide","tag-treaties","tag-urban-indians","tag-usccr","tag-william-smith","tag-women","tag-yvette-roubideaux","no-wpautop"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/10\/jilljimroselyntsojonathannez.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pcoJ7g-5Ij","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21967","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21967"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21967\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21973"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21967"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21967"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21967"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}