Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) delivered opening remarks at a Senate Committee on Indian Affairs hearing in support of the Lumbee Fairness Act. The proposed legislation would grant the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina full federal recognition and extend to them the same benefits as other federally recognized tribes.
Tillis’ statement followed a press conference on the bill with Senator Ted Budd (R-NC), Representatives Richard Hudson (R-NC), Tim Moore (R-NC), Mark Harris (R-NC), and Lumbee Tribal Chairman John Lowery.
Addressing bipartisan backing for the measure, Tillis said: “This issue has come before Congress many times over the decades, but never with this level of unity and support. These days, it’s rare to see Republicans and Democrats come together on anything. But when it comes to Lumbee recognition, the support is overwhelming and it’s bipartisan. We’re talking about support from President Donald J. Trump, President Biden, Vice President J.D. Vance, former Vice President Kamala Harris, Governor Josh Stein, the North Carolina General Assembly and nearly every member of our state’s congressional delegation. Here in the Senate, nearly two dozen members from both parties have co-sponsored the Lumbee Fairness Act, including Senator Schatz and Senator Mullin, who sit together on this very committee, and maybe most remarkable, more than 235 federally recognized tribes have stood with the Lumbee people, including the Alaska Federation of Natives, representing 186 tribes and corporations.”
Discussing the tribe’s history with federal recognition efforts, Tillis stated: “The Lumbee’s history is long and well documented. They were recognized by the state of North Carolina in 1885 and began seeking federal recognition just three years later. That was 137 years ago, during the 20th century. The Lumbee were among the dozens of victims of the termination era, one of the darkest periods in federal Indian policy. In 1956, Congress passed the Lumbee Act. It acknowledged the tribe, but cruelly denied them the benefits and the recognition that every other tribe receives. The federal government has since worked to correct the grave injustices of the determination error for nearly every single tribe except for the Lumbee. Time and again, the Lumbee have proven their case.”
He also spoke about visiting communities with strong ties to Lumbee heritage: “I invite anyone with doubts to visit Robeson County, Hope County, or Scotland County, go to the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, founded by and for the Lumbee people. You’ll see the rich Lumbee culture their deep roots in North Carolina and their extraordinary contributions to our state and our nation. You’ll find a community defined by pride and resilience and service, educators, first responders, health care professionals, small business owners, and farmers, and situated just miles from Fort Bragg, the largest military installation in the world. You’ll meet countless Lumbee and veterans who have served our country honorably, and for generations they’ve done everything this nation has ever asked of them; all they ask in return is fairness. I do know one leader who has visited Robinson County and has stood with The Lumbee people—and that’s President Trump. Just three days into a second term President Trump made it official policy of United States government to support full federal recognition of The Lumbee Tribe—that includes access to every federal benefit that they’ve earned—and now is time for Congress to act.”
Senator Tillis previously won reelection campaigns in North Carolina against Cal Cunningham in 2020 by securing 48.7% of votes compared to Cunningham’s 46.9%, as well as defeating Kay Hagan in 2014 with 48.8% versus Hagan’s 47.3%.
