Skip to main content
Image
Washington DC

Bishop Champions House Passage of Lumbee Recognition Act

November 16, 2020

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed the Lumbee Recognition Act, paving the way for federal recognition of the Lumbee and their over 60,000 members in North Carolina. Congressman Bishop, who made Lumbee recognition a high priority of his first months in office, released the following statement.

"Members of the Lumbee Tribe have waited decades for the federal recognition and rights they have for too long been denied. My first act in Congress was to sign onto legislation to award the Lumbee their full rights and today I cast my vote strongly in support of the Lumbee Recognition Act," said Rep. Bishop.

"This bill will accord to the Lumbee the same respect conferred upon other Native American tribes, with full rights of self-determination. I thank my colleagues, including Chairman Raul Grijalva, Ranking Member Rob Bishop, Rep. G.K. Butterfield (NC-01) and Rep. Richard Hudson (NC-08) as well as Lumbee Chairman Harvey Godwin Jr. and the Lumbee Tribal Council for their partnership in securing the historic passage of this Act," concluded Bishop.

"As the Chairman of the Lumbee Tribe, I want to express my thanks to all of the House members supporting our bill, including our very own congressman, Dan Bishop," said Chairman of the Lumbee Tribe Harvey Godwin Jr."Ever since Rep. Bishop was elected he has been a very strong supporter of recognition for the Tribe. In fact, his first official act upon assuming office was to sign on as a co-sponsor of our bill. The Lumbee people have been praying for this day and today's action in the House brings us one step closer to our goal," concluded Godwin.

The Lumbee Recognition Act passed the House of Representatives unanimously. The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration. If passed, President Trump has said he will sign it into law.

Congressman Bishop was elected to Congress in a special election in 2019. In addition to immediately joining the Lumbee Recognition Act as a cosponsor, Bishop has delivered remarks in favor of its passage on the House floor and in the House Natural Resources Committee.

More information on the bill can be found here.