S. 107

119 S107 IS: Lumbee Fairness Act
 U.S. Senate
 2025-01-16
 text/xml
 EN
 Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
 II  119th CONGRESS  1st Session  S. 107  IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES   January 16, 2025   Mr. Tillis  (for himself and  Mr. Budd ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the  Committee on Indian Affairs    A BILL
To amend the Lumbee Act of 1956.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Lumbee Fairness Act  .
2.
Federal recognition
The Act of June 7, 1956 (70 Stat. 254, chapter 375), is amended—
(1)
by striking section 2;
(2)
in the first sentence of the first section, by striking  That the Indians  and inserting the following:
3.
Designation of Lumbee Indians
The Indians
 ;
(3)
in the preamble—
(A)
by inserting before the first undesignated clause the following:
1.
Findings
Congress finds that—
 ;
(B)
by designating the undesignated clauses as paragraphs (1) through (4), respectively, and indenting appropriately;
(C)
by striking  Whereas  each place it appears;
(D)
by striking  and  after the semicolon at the end of each of paragraphs (1) and (2) (as so designated); and
(E)
in paragraph (4) (as so designated), by striking  : Now, therefore,  and inserting a period;
(4)
by moving the enacting clause so as to appear before section 1 (as so designated);
(5)
by striking the last sentence of section 3 (as designated by paragraph (2));
(6)
by inserting before section 3 (as designated by paragraph (2)) the following:
2.
Definitions
In this Act:
(1)
Secretary
The term  Secretary  means the Secretary of the Interior.
(2)
Tribe
The term  Tribe  means the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina or the Lumbee Indians of North Carolina.
 ; and
(7)
by adding at the end the following:
4.
Federal recognition
(a)
In general
Federal recognition is extended to the Tribe (as designated as petitioner number 65 by the Office of Federal Acknowledgment).
(b)
Applicability of laws
All laws and regulations of the United States of general application to Indians and Indian tribes shall apply to the Tribe and its members.
(c)
Petition for acknowledgment
Notwithstanding section 3, any group of Indians in Robeson and adjoining counties, North Carolina, whose members are not enrolled in the Tribe (as determined under section 5(d)) may petition under part 83 of title 25 of the Code of Federal Regulations for acknowledgment of tribal existence.
5.
Eligibility for Federal services
(a)
In general
The Tribe and its members shall be eligible for all services and benefits provided by the Federal Government to federally recognized Indian tribes.
(b)
Service area
For the purpose of the delivery of Federal services and benefits described in subsection (a), those members of the Tribe residing in Robeson, Cumberland, Hoke, and Scotland counties in North Carolina shall be deemed to be residing on or near an Indian reservation.
(c)
Determination of needs
On verification by the Secretary of a tribal roll under subsection (d), the Secretary and the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall—
(1)
develop, in consultation with the Tribe, a determination of needs to provide the services for which members of the Tribe are eligible; and
(2)
after the tribal roll is verified, each submit to Congress a written statement of those needs.
(d)
Tribal roll
(1)
In general
For purpose of the delivery of Federal services and benefits described in subsection (a), the tribal roll in effect on the date of enactment of this section shall, subject to verification by the Secretary, define the service population of the Tribe.
(2)
Verification limitation and deadline
The verification by the Secretary under paragraph (1) shall—
(A)
be limited to confirming documentary proof of compliance with the membership criteria set out in the constitution of the Tribe adopted on November 16, 2001; and
(B)
be completed not later than 2 years after the submission of a digitized roll with supporting documentary proof by the Tribe to the Secretary.
6.
Authorization to take land into trust
(a)
In general
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary is hereby authorized to take land into trust for the benefit of the Tribe.
(b)
Treatment of certain land
An application to take into trust land located within Robeson County, North Carolina, under this section shall be treated by the Secretary as an  on reservation  trust acquisition under part 151 of title 25, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation).
7.
Jurisdiction of State of North Carolina
(a)
In general
With respect to land located within the State of North Carolina that is owned by, or held in trust by the United States for the benefit of, the Tribe, or any dependent Indian community of the Tribe, the State of North Carolina shall exercise jurisdiction over—
(1)
all criminal offenses that are committed; and
(2)
all civil actions that arise.
(b)
Transfer of jurisdiction
(1)
In general
Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary may accept on behalf of the United States, after consulting with the Attorney General of the United States, any transfer by the State of North Carolina to the United States of any portion of the jurisdiction of the State of North Carolina described in subsection (a) over Indian country occupied by the Tribe pursuant to an agreement between the Tribe and the State of North Carolina.
(2)
Restriction
A transfer of jurisdiction described in paragraph (1) may not take effect until 2 years after the effective date of the agreement described in that paragraph.
(c)
Effect
Nothing in this section affects the application of section 109 of the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 ( 25 U.S.C. 1919 ).
 .