US House backs Lumbee tribe, tying its status to a military spending bill

Danielle Battaglia, The News & Observer (Raleigh) on Sep 10, 2025

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WASHINGTON — The U.S. House on Wednesday supported granting the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina federal recognition.

Rep. David Rouzer, a Republican from Wilmington, proposed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act to give the tribe federal recognition. The NDAA is legislation passed yearly by Congress to set the budget of the Department of Defense. Since the bill must pass, lawmakers try to add amendments with other policy changes they haven’t been able to pass on their own.

The amendment was agreed to around 3 p.m. Tuesday on the House floor. The House planned to vote on the NDAA around 4 p.m.

Rouzer’s amendment revises a June 7, 1956, law that provided federal recognition to the tribe but banned the tribe from federal benefits and services that have been available to other Native American tribes.

The Lumbee Tribe has 60,000 members in Robeson, Hoke, Scotland and Cumberland counties, making up the largest tribe east of the Mississippi River and the ninth largest in the country, the resolution says.

Rouzer spoke Wednesday on the House floor about his amendment saying a bill has been introduced more than 30 times since 1956.

“Despite their long history and cohesive culture, Lumbee have never had access to the same federal benefits enjoyed by every other federally recognized tribe during what’s referred to as the termination era,” Rouzer said. “Congress passed the Lumbee Act of 1956 recognizing the tribe, yet denying them the federal rights and protections afforded to other federally recognized tribes.”

He added that since 1978, Congress has recognized 23 other tribes.

The Lumbee Tribe first sought federal recognition in 1888, calling for federal aid for the tribe’s educational system. The tribe had been recognized by the state three years earlier.

When Congress passed the 1956 legislation it left the Lumbee in a unique position, with differing opinions on whether they could continue to seek federal benefits. Many believe it would take another act of Congress.

In December, the House passed a bill, 311-96, filed by Rouzer to grant federal benefits to the tribe. Reps. Virginia Foxx, a Republican from Banner Elk, and Chuck Edwards, a Republican from Flat Rock, voted against the bill. Both represent areas of North Carolina where the Eastern Band of the Cherokee reside. The Cherokee strongly oppose a congressional act recognizing the Lumbee, and want the tribe to go through the Office of Federal Acknowledgement instead.

The House’s bill was passed the last week of the 118th Congress, and did not make it to the Senate for final passage.

There it has strong support from Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican from Huntersville, who has made it one of his primary issues. Tillis plans to retire at the end of his current term.

In January, the tribe received renewed hope for potential recognition when President Donald Trump made one of the first executive orders he issued a directive for the Department of Interior to find a way to get the tribe full recognition.

A report was due to the president within 90 days; its contents have not been publicly released.

“We must take legislative action to fix this problem and amend the 1956 law that currently prohibits this access,” said Rep. Mark Harris, a Republican from Charlotte.

Reps. Harris, Richard Hudson, Addison McDowell and Tim Moore co-sponsored the amendment.

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