Meet the New HHS Commissioner for Native Americans

The Beat DC reported in February that Jean Hovland had been nominated to serve as Commissioner of the Health and Human Services Administration for Native Americans. Senator John Hoeven (R-ND), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, on Thursday announced that the Senate had approved her nomination. The enrolled member of the Flandreau Santee Sioux was serving as the Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs at the Department of the Interior. Previously, Hovland was a long-time staffer to Senator John Thune (R-SD) who most recently served as his tribal affairs advisor. Hovland has worked for Thune since 2005 and played a key role in developing the Tribal Law and Order Act, the Tribal Veterans Health Care Enhancement Act, and the Restoring Accountability in the Indian Health Service Act of 2017. She also served as the CEO of Wanji Native Nations Consultants which offered training services for Tribal programs and Tribal governments pertaining to homeland security, emergency management, stress management, and time management. More here.