Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has established an HHS Tribal Advisory Committee, signalling the department's commitment to strenghten relationships with Indian tribal governments.
"The establishment of a tribal advisory committee at the secretarial level will create a coordinated, department-wide strategy to incorporate tribal guidance on HHS priorities, policies and budget, improve the government-to-government relationship and mechanisms for continuous improvement with our partnership with Indian tribes," she said in making the announcement Thursday.
According to Sebelius, the STAC's primary purpose will be to seek consensus, exchange views, share information, provide advice and recommendations and facilitate any other interaction related to intergovernmental responsibilities or administration of HHS programs, including those that arise explicitly or implicitly under statute, regulation or executive order.
The first meeting of the STAC is expected to take place in December, she said.
The HHS is taking nominations for one primary representative from each of the 12 areas of the Indian Health Service (IHS), as well as five at-large national representatives.
According to the HHS, all representatives must either be elected or appointed tribal officials, acting in their official capacity as the elected officials of their tribe, or be designated by an elected tribal official with authority to act on behalf of the tribal official. Nominations should be submitted to the HHS no later than Oct. 29.