Mark Cruz
45:24 - 46:16
"if confirmed, I would have— I would be dual-hatting, but I would essentially be preserving that close relationship with the Secretary. And as we manage within the departments, that is just a critical relationship to have because we do hear about a number of issues from tribal leaders and tribal health departments and our urban partners about issues that are occurring in different operating divisions."
“if confirmed, I would have— I would be dual-hatting, but I would essentially be preserving that close relationship with the Secretary. And as we manage within the departments, that is just a critical relationship to have because we do hear about a number of issues from tribal leaders and tribal health departments and our urban partners about issues that are occurring in different operating divisions.”
- Speaker
- Mark Cruz
- Timestamp
- 45:24 – 46:16
- Community
- Alaska News
- Captured at
- June 24, 2026
From the transcript
That the IHS director is responsible for. But what's surprising to me is that it's taken so long for that senior advisor position to be created. But it's also surprising to hear that the IHS director hadn't had a meaningful role with the secretary prior to this senior advisor role being created. So in a way, if confirmed, I would have— I would be dual-hatting, but I would essentially be preserving that close relationship with the Secretary. And as we manage within the departments, that is just a critical relationship to have because we do hear about a number of issues from tribal leaders and tribal health departments and our urban partners about issues that are occurring in different operating divisions.
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