WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Ted Budd (R-NC), along with Representatives David Rouzer (R-NC), Mark Harris (R-NC), Richard Hudson (R-NC), Tim Moore (R-NC), Deborah Ross (D-NC), Addison McDowell (R-NC), Valerie Foushee (D-NC), Greg Murphy (R-NC), Don Davis (D-NC), and Alma Adams (D-NC), applauded the signing of the Lumbee Fairness Act into law.
“For 137 years, the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina fought for the full federal recognition they were promised, and today that promise has finally been fulfilled,” said Senator Tillis. “President Donald Trump pledged to get this done, and he kept that promise. By signing the Lumbee Fairness Act into law, a historic injustice has been corrected, and the Lumbee people can finally access the full federal benefits they have long earned and deserve. This achievement was a true team effort, and I am grateful to Lumbee Tribal Chairman John Lowery, Senator Ted Budd, Michael Whatley, and members of the North Carolina Congressional Delegation, including Representatives Rouzer, Hudson, Harris, McDowell, and Moore, for working together to deliver this long overdue recognition for the Lumbee people.”
“For nearly fifty years, the Lumbee Tribe has fought for the same rights and benefits that every other federally recognized tribe receives,” said Senator Budd. “Today, this long fight is over, and the more than 60,000 members of the Lumbee Tribe will begin the process of receiving the benefits they deserve. I want to thank Senator Tillis for his strong leadership of the North Carolina delegation as we fought for this provision, and his unyielding dedication to the recognition of the Lumbee people throughout his time in the U.S. Senate. Under the leadership of Chairman John Lowery, the Lumbee Tribe has had strong advocates in President Trump and his administration and in Representatives Rouzer and Harris who introduced the Lumbee Fairness Act in the House. I am grateful to have played a role in securing this major victory for such an important group of North Carolinians.”
“It is truly a great and monumental day for the Lumbee Tribe — the effects of which will transcend generations for the Lumbee people and all of North Carolina,” said Representative Rouzer, who offered the House amendment to the NDAA to provide federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe. “Passage of my legislation, the Lumbee Fairness Act, will finally grant the Tribe full federal recognition and long-deserved benefits. This historic moment reflects the perseverance of Lumbee Tribal Chairman John Lowery, the tenacity of the Lumbee people, strong support from President Trump, and years of advocacy by Senators Tillis, Budd, Dole, Burr, and many other North Carolina colleagues. Thank you all for your dedication to make this victory possible.”
“As the first bill I co-introduced in Congress, the Lumbee Fairness Act brings to fruition the decades-long fight on Capitol Hill for full federal recognition,” said Representative Mark Harris. “Federal recognition for the Lumbee Tribe is about much more than just words on paper; it signifies they are seen. The Lumbee Tribe is now officially the 575th federally recognized tribe. What a historic moment this is for the Lumbee Tribe and an honor as their representative—God is so good!”
“For generations, the Lumbee people have fought for fairness and full recognition,” said Representative Hudson. “We delivered. This long-overdue win finally honors the Lumbee Tribe’s heritage and ensures they receive the federal support and opportunities they deserve.”
“This is a historic moment generations of Lumbee families have hoped for, and I’m honored to have played a part in helping make it happen,” said Representative Moore. “I’m especially grateful to President Trump, Chairman Lowery, Senator Tillis, and our North Carolina delegation for their leadership in delivering long-overdue recognition to the Lumbee Tribe.”
“Finally, the Lumbee Tribe will get the recognition they deserve and worked towards for 137 years,” said Representative Ross. “Generations of Lumbee strived and advocated for this hard-fought milestone. I appreciate the work of my colleagues across North Carolina who came together on a bipartisan basis to make recognition possible.”
“The Lumbee Fairness Act corrects a clear historical mistake and brings long-overdue clarity to the Lumbee Tribe’s federal status,” said Representative McDowell. “For more than a century, the People of the Dark Water have sought the fair and equal recognition they deserve. Through this legislation, the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina will have the same rights as every other federally recognized tribe. And with the signature of President Donald Trump, we are closing a chapter of federal inconsistency and delivering an outcome that should have been resolved generations ago.”
“I am overjoyed to see the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina at long last receive federal tribal recognition,” said Representative Foushee. “This is an effort that I have been working on closely with colleagues across the political spectrum for over a decade, but it pales in comparison to the over 100 years the Lumbee have spent seeking reprieve. The federal government owes a great debt to Native Americans and tribal communities across the country. This isn't a political issue—this recognition is important for the state of North Carolina and efforts to work with, support, and uplift tribal communities cannot stop here.”
“Since 1885, the Lumbee Tribe was recognized in North Carolina and began its long quest to seek full federal recognition thereafter,” said Representative Murphy, M.D. “The community faced egregious oppression and violence, and while Congress acknowledged the Lumbee people in 1956, they did not receive the same benefits and recognition as other tribes. After many decades, justice has been achieved and with great bipartisan backing. I’m very proud to have supported this effort from the beginning. Congratulations to the Lumbee Tribe!”
“Today, our nation fulfills a generations-long promise we made to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, correcting a historic injustice and allowing the Lumbee people to finally get the federal recognition and support they deserve,” said Representative Adams. “After 137 years, I’m proud to see that the Lumbee Tribe has finally won their fight and that justice has finally prevailed.”
Background:
The Lumbee Fairness Act grants long-overdue federal benefits to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina that every other federally recognized tribe receives. The Lumbee Tribe is the largest American-Indian tribe in the Eastern United States. In 1885, North Carolina formally recognized the Lumbee Tribe. Three years later, the Tribe began to seek federal recognition. On June 7, 1956, Congress enacted the Lumbee Act at the height of the Indian termination policy era, which provided the Lumbee with federal recognition but included an unfair caveat that terminated their recognition.
The Lumbee Tribe received support from over 230 federally recognized tribes, President Trump, Vice President Vance, President Biden, Vice President Harris, the North Carolina General Assembly, and various Native American scholars and organizations.
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