25 U.S.C. § 1663 — Office of Direct Service Tribes

(a) Establishment. The Service^* must have an office called the “Office of Direct Service Tribes.”

(b) Treatment. The office must be located in the Office of the Director.

(c) Duties. The office is responsible for: (1) Service-wide leadership, guidance, and support for direct service tribes, including strategic planning and program evaluation; (2) ensuring maximum flexibility for tribal health and related support systems serving Indian beneficiaries; (3) being the main point for consultation and participation between direct service tribes and organizations and the Service when Service policy is developed; (4) holding at least two consultations each year with direct service tribes in suitable locations to gather information and help develop health policy; and (5) directing a national program and providing leadership and advocacy concerning health policy, program management, budget preparation, resource allocation, and delegation support for direct service tribes.