Lumbee Fairness Act

Plain-English Summary: Lumbee Fairness Act

The Lumbee Fairness Act is a bill that would grant full federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, one of the largest Native American tribes in the United States with roughly 55,000 enrolled members. Federal recognition is an official government acknowledgment that a tribe exists as a sovereign nation with a government-to-government relationship with the United States. Despite being recognized by the state of North Carolina and having been acknowledged by Congress in 1956, the Lumbee Tribe has historically been excluded from the full benefits and protections that come with complete federal recognition.

The core of this bill would remove a restriction from that 1956 law that explicitly denied the Lumbee access to federal services provided to other recognized tribes. If passed, the Lumbee would become fully eligible for federal programs and services administered through the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Indian Health Service, including healthcare, education, housing, and economic development resources that other federally recognized tribes already receive.

This legislation would primarily affect the Lumbee Tribe members, most of whom live in and around Robeson County, North Carolina. It could also have budgetary implications for the federal government, as extending full recognition would open the door to federal funding and services for a large tribal population. The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, where hearings have already been held, suggesting it is receiving serious consideration.