Lumbee Fairness Act

House Bill

H.R. 474

119th Congress

Lumbee Fairness Act

In Committee

Introduced:Jan 16, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Daniel Meuser

Representative

Republican

PA-9

Cosponsors

11

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Native Americans

Summary

This bill grants full federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, making members eligible for federal services provided to recognized tribes. Members in Robeson, Cumberland, Hoke, and Scotland Counties are within the service delivery area. Interior and HHS must assess service needs. Interior may take land into trust. North Carolina retains criminal and civil jurisdiction unless transferred by agreement.

Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

SponsorDaniel Meuser (R-PA)

Introduced1/16/2025

StatusReferred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

ChamberHouse

Data from Congress.gov

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Vote Prediction

Lumbee Fairness Act

This bill grants full federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, making members eligible for federal services provided to recognized tribes. Members in Robeson, Cumberland, Hoke, and Scotland Counties are within the service delivery area. Inter

Community Breakdown

Pass

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Fail

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This bill grants full federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, making members eligible for federal services provided to recognized tribes. Members in Robeson, Cumberland, Hoke, and Scotland Counties are within the service delivery area. Interior and HHS must assess service needs. Interior may take land into trust. North Carolina retains criminal and civil jurisdiction unless transferred by agreement.

Bill Number: 474
Sponsor: Daniel Meuser (R-PA)
Introduced: 1/16/2025
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Policy Area: Native Americans

Data from Congress.gov

AI-generated summary

Fact Sheet

Title: Lumbee Fairness Act
Bill Number: 474
Sponsor: Daniel Meuser (R-PA)
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Introduced: 1/16/2025
Summary: This bill grants full federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, making members eligible for federal services provided to recognized tribes. Members in Robeson, Cumberland, Hoke, and Scotland Counties are within the service delivery area. Interior and HHS must assess service needs. I

Data from Congress.gov

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill grants full federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, making members eligible for federal services provided to recognized tribes. Members in Robeson, Cumberland, Hoke, and Scotland Counties are within the service delivery area. Interior and HHS must assess service needs. Interior may take land into trust. North Carolina retains criminal and civil jurisdiction unless transferred by agreement.

Last updated: 1/4/2026

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

Lumbee Fairness Act This bill extends federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina and makes its members eligible for the services and benefits provided to members of federally recognized tribes. Members of the tribe residing in Robeson, Cumberland, Hoke, and Scotland Counties in North Carolina are deemed to be within the delivery area for such services. The Department of the Interior and the Department of Health and Human Services must develop, in consultation with the tribe, a determination of needs to provide the services for which members of the tribe are eligible. Interior may take land into trust for the benefit of the tribe. Finally, North Carolina must exercise jurisdiction over all criminal offenses committed, and all civil actions that arise, on North Carolina lands owned by, or held in trust for, the Lumbee Tribe or any dependent Indian community of the tribe unless jurisdiction is transferred to the United States pursuant to an agreement between the tribe and the state.

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Grants full federal recognition to Lumbee Tribe
Members eligible for federal tribal services
Covers four North Carolina counties
Interior may take land into trust
North Carolina retains jurisdiction unless transferred

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

The Lumbee Tribe, with approximately 55,000 members, is the largest tribe east of the Mississippi lacking full federal recognition. Partial recognition since 1956 excluded them from most federal services and benefits. Full recognition would provide healthcare, education, and other federal programs while enabling land-into-trust and potential economic development. The bill resolves a decades-long quest for equal tribal status.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Native Americans

Related Subjects

Federal-Indian relations

Indian lands and resources rights

North Carolina

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

474, 119th Congress (2025). "Lumbee Fairness Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-hr-474

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