Lumbee Tribe sees progress on federal recognition bill

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Lumbee Tribe: Veteran’s Day Service – November 11, 2020

Monday, November 16, 2020

By Acee Agoyo

Indianz.Com

The U.S. House of Representatives is slated to approve a bipartisan bill to extend federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe.

During the height of the termination era, Congress passed a law that identified the Lumbees as “Indians.” The 1956 statute, however, barred the tribe from receiving the same benefits and services afforded to federally recognized Indian nations.

H.R.1964, the Lumbee Recognition Act, rectifies the situation. The bill ensures that the tribe enjoys a government-to-government relationship with the United States.

“This bill is no symbolic gesture,” Rep. Dan Bishop (R-North Carolina), whose district includes Lumbee territory, said of the Lumbee Recognition Act. “No other recognized tribe is denied the right to self-government and sovereignty.”

The US House of Representatives is returning to work after a long recess & the 2020 election.

On tap for November 16:
H.R.1964, Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina Recognition Act

The bill repeals a termination-era law and extends federal recognition to Lumbee Tribe. @LumbeeTribeNC
— indianz.com (@indianz) November 15, 2020

H.R.1964 is scheduled to be considered under a suspension of the rules on Monday afternoon, according to the House Majority Leader’s calendar. The process is typically used for bills that are non-controversial in nature.

The legislative day begins at 2pm Eastern. The session can be viewed at live.house.gov.

Previous versions of the Lumbee Recognition Act have easily been approved by the House during prior sessions of Congress. But the bill has never passed the U.S. Senate.

S.1368 is the Senate version of the bill. The measure is being supported by two Republicans, whose party controls the chamber.

During campaign visits to North Carolina before the November 3 election, President Donald Trump said he supported federal recognition for the tribe. His backing came after Democrat Joe Biden had already endorsed the effort.

Though Trump won the majority of the vote in North Carolina, including the county where large numbers of Lumbee citizens live, Biden has been declared the winner of the presidential election.

Trump is refusing to concede. He has raised allegations of voter fraud that have not been documented.

Despite the claims, Bishop won re-election to a full term in office. So did Sen. Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), a co-sponsor of the Senate version of the recognition bill.

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