At a business meeting this morning, the Senate Indian Affairs Committee approved the nomination of Yvette Roubideaux to be director of the Indian Health Service.

Roubideaux is a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe of South Dakota. If confirmed by the full Senate, she will be the Native woman to lead the IHS

"I congratulate Dr. Roubideaux as this process moves forward and join with the many South Dakotans who are very proud of this nomination," said Sen. Tim Johnson (D-South Dakota), a member of the committee. "The health disparities that American Indians face are vastly different than those that face other parts of the Country. We must do everything that we can to combat these trends and I look forward to working with Dr. Roubideaux to ensure that the federal government fulfills its treaty and trust responsibility to the best of its ability."

At her confirmation hearing on April 23, Roubideaux testified that her priorities would be to strengthen partnerships with tribes, reform the agency, improve quality and access to health care and ensure the agency is transparent, accountable and fair to patients.

Committee Notice:
BUSINESS MEETING on the the following (April 30, 2009)

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