Rep. Jim Moran (D-Virginia) introduced a bill to extend federal recognition to six tribes in Virginia.

Moran said Congress must act because Virginia law wiped out important records that would aid the tribes. The state barred people from identifying themselves as Indian.

"There is no doubt that the Chickahominy, the Eastern Chickahominy, the Monacan, the Nansemond, the Rappahannock and the Upper Mattaponi tribes exist. These tribes have existed on a continuous basis since before the first European settlers stepped foot in America," Moran said in a statement in the Congressional Record. "They are here with us today."

The bill is H.R.1385, the text of which is not yet available in Thomas, the Congressional database. It has six co-sponsors.

Moran expects the House Natural Resources Committee to hold a hearing on the bill next week.

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Press Release: VA Tribes Bill Reintroduced (Rep. Jim Moran 3/9)