Supporters are praying for passage of a bill to extend federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina.

The House passed the bill in June 2009 but it never came up for a vote in the Senate. So Sen. Kay Hagan (D-North Carolina) and Sen. Richard Burr (R-North Carolina) are trying to attach it to the must-pass spending bill.

"Like I said, crazy things happen during the lame-duck session when everyone is trying to hurry up and get out of Dodge. We're all praying," Arlinda Locklear, a tribal member who used to lead the recognition effort, told The Fayetteville Observer.

Congress identified the Lumbees as "Indians" in 1956. But the law, which was passed during the termination era, said they weren't eligible for federal services.

Two other tribes that were the subject of similar acts of Congress have since been restored to federal recognition.

Get the Story:
Hagan still sees hope for Lumbee recognition bill (The Fayetteville Observer 12/9)

Lumbee Recognition Bills:
S.1735 | H.R.31 | H.R.839

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