{"id":11450,"date":"2021-05-12T17:10:52","date_gmt":"2021-05-12T21:10:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/News\/?p=11450"},"modified":"2021-05-13T08:04:55","modified_gmt":"2021-05-13T12:04:55","slug":"key-senate-leader-seeks-hearing-on-lumbee-tribe-federal-recognition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/05\/12\/key-senate-leader-seeks-hearing-on-lumbee-tribe-federal-recognition\/","title":{"rendered":"Key Senate leader seeks hearing on Lumbee Tribe federal recognition"},"content":{"rendered":"\"milesformmiwg\"\r\n
In a social media post on May 5, 2021, the Lumbee Tribe thanked participants in the “Miles for MMMIWG” run in recognition of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in North Carolina. Photo: Lumbee Tribe<\/a>\r\n<\/figcaption>\r\n
Key Senate leader seeks hearing on Lumbee Tribe federal recognition<\/div>\r\n
Wednesday, May 12, 2021<\/div>\r\n
By Acee Agoyo<\/div>\r\n
Indianz.Com<\/div>\r\n

<\/p>\r\nWASHINGTON, D.C. — \r\nA key leader in the U.S. Senate<\/a> intends to move forward with a bill to extend federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe<\/a>.\r\n

<\/p>\r\nSen. Brian Schatz<\/a> (D-Hawaii) announced his support for a hearing on S.1364<\/a>, the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina Recognition Act, on Wednesday. His position is crucial as he serves as chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs<\/a>, the legislative panel with jurisdiction over tribal matters.\r\n

<\/p>\r\n\u201cThe Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina Recognition Act deserves a full and fair hearing before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs,\u201d Schatz said in a statement. \u201cCongress\u2019 constitutional authority to recognize Indian tribes must be exercised with due diligence, and the first step is a legislative hearing.\u201d\r\n

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Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) serves as chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. Photo: SCIA<\/a>\r\n<\/figcaption>\r\n

<\/P>\r\nThe Lumbee Tribe, based in North Carolina, is in a unique political and legal situation with the United States. In 1956, during the height of the disastrous termination era of federal policy<\/a>, Congress enacted a law identifying the Lumbees as “Indians”<\/a> while denying them full recognition as a tribal nation.\r\n

<\/p>\r\nS.1364 rectifies the situation by repealing the termination-era language and confirming that the Lumbees are eligible for federal services, benefits and other programs that are open to other recognized tribes.\r\n

<\/P>\r\n\u201cFor more than 130 years, the Lumbees have sought the same federal recognition that other tribes across the nation enjoy,\u201d said Sen. Richard Burr<\/a> (R-North Carolina), who introduced the bill on April 26<\/a>. \u201cThis federal recognition will help the Lumbee people not only improve their economy, but enhance their health care systems and schools.\r\n

<\/P>\r\n\u201cDespite broad bipartisan support of this legislation over the last three decades, Congress has yet to act on this important bill,\u201d Burr continued. \u201cThis has been a grave disservice to the Lumbee people and the rich culture the tribe contributes to North Carolina. It\u2019s time to get this done. I urge the Senate to swiftly pass this bill.\u201d\r\n

<\/P>\r\n\u201cThe Lumbee Tribe has been fighting for more than a century to gain federal recognition and, as long as I\u2019m in the U.S. Senate, I\u2019m going to continue my work to make sure this happens,\u201d added Sen. Thom Tillis<\/a> (R-North Carolina), a co-sponsor of the legislation. \u201cI am proud to co-introduce this legislation again and continue my work with Senator Burr to get this legislation across the finish line.\u201d\r\n

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Chairman Harvey Godwin, Jr, of the Lumbee Tribe testifies before the U.S. House Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States on December 4, 2019. A bill to extend federal recognition to the tribe passed the U.S. House of Representatives during the 116th Congress but failed to get over the finish line in the U.S. Senate. Photo: House Committee on Natural Resources, Democrats<\/a>\r\n<\/figcaption>\r\n

<\/P>\r\nHistorically, the U.S. Senate has been less than receptive to the Lumbee Tribe. The chamber has consistently failed to take action even when the U.S. House of Representatives<\/a> has passed federal recognition bills in the past.\r\n

<\/p>\r\nBut supporters, and the tribe itself, are hoping for a different outcome in the 117th Congress, where Democrats control both chambers of the U.S. government’s legislative arm. The House version of the bill is H.R.2758<\/a>, which enjoys backing from members of both political parties.\r\n

<\/p>\r\n\u201cThe leadership of this bipartisan team inspires us, and will be crucial in advancing this bill through the House,\u201d Chairman Harvey Godwin, Jr., said of H.R.2758, which was introduced on April 22.\r\n

<\/p>\r\nDuring the 2020 presidential campaign, federal recognition for the tribe became a focus of both the Republican and Democratic parties. During the race, Joe Biden, who won the election despite failing to carry the state of North Carolina, said he supported federal recognition for the tribe. When he served as vice president, the Barack Obama administration backed<\/a> federal recognition as well.\r\n

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