Media

The Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina is trying again to persuade Congress to give its people millions of dollars in federal benefits that other American Indian tribes receive.

Similar efforts have failed for decades, in part because of opposition from other tribes that fear their benefits would be reduced in order to provide for the Lumbees. But U.S. Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina introduced a new Lumbee recognition bill and, with Lumbee Tribal Chairman Harvey Godwin, presented it Wednesday to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.

This summer, with the American people as our guide, House Republicans released our Better Way agenda, a plan to tackle the biggest problems facing our country. Now, we’re taking that plan on the road, bringing it to schools, homes, businesses, community groups, and nonprofits across the nation to get even more feedback on how we can put our country back on track.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs will hold a hearing Wednesday on the Lumbee Recognition Act, which would federally recognize the Lumbee Tribe.

The act amends the Lumbee Recognition Act of June 7, 1956, which gave the tribe partial recognition. If approved by both the U.S. House and Senate, the act would make members of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina eligible for the services and benefits provided to members of all federally recognized tribes.

President Barack Obama this week announced his plan to release 15 prisoners to the United Arab Emirates and Republican members of Congress rapidly noted their opposition.

Members of Congress representing Rowan County were among the crowd of opponents.

Rep. Richard Hudson, a Republican who represents a part of Rowan, called the move “breathtaking.”