Bill > HR474

This bill seeks to amend the Lumbee Act of 1956 to provide full federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, granting them the same rights and benefits as other federally recognized Native American tribes. The bill establishes federal recognition for the Lumbee Tribe, making its members eligible for federal services and benefits typically provided to recognized Native American tribes. It defines the tribe's service area as including Robeson, Cumberland, Hoke, and Scotland counties in North Carolina, and allows the Secretary of the Interior to take land into trust for the tribe's benefit. The bill also clarifies that North Carolina will retain jurisdiction over criminal offenses and civil actions on tribal lands, with a potential future mechanism for transferring some jurisdictional powers. Additionally, the legislation provides a process for verifying the tribal roll and allows other groups of Indians in the region to petition for tribal acknowledgment. The bill aims to address long-standing issues of recognition and support for the Lumbee Tribe, which has historically sought full federal recognition and the associated rights and resources.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/474/all-info