December 4, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 193 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Page H9225]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           LONG-OVERDUE FEDERAL BENEFITS FOR THE LUMBEE TRIBE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. Bishop) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BISHOP of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, at 2 p.m. today, the 
Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of 
the United States will hear the Lumbee Recognition Act, which would 
afford the Lumbee Tribe long-overdue Federal benefits. Although the 
Federal Government provided partial recognition to the Tribe in 1956, 
the Lumbee remain excluded from Federal benefits and legal status.
  This bill is no symbolic gesture. No other recognized Tribe is denied 
the right to self-government and sovereignty. Full recognition will 
finally allow the 55,000 Lumbee I represent to have fair access to the 
benefits and programs available to all other recognized Tribes.
  As a State senator, I sponsored legislation to clarify the status of 
the Lumbee as a State-recognized Tribe to ensure access to appropriate 
grants and programs. Now, I am proud, as a United States Congressman, 
to continue to fight for the Lumbee Tribe on the Federal level. In 
fact, cosponsoring this crucial legislation was one of my first 
official acts in Congress.
  I applaud my colleagues, Representatives Butterfield and Hudson, for 
introducing this important legislation to right this fundamentally 
unfair wrong. I look forward to casting my vote on the House floor to 
give the Lumbee the recognition they so rightfully deserve.

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