Digital Scholarship and Initiatives

This bill (short title: “Lumbee Acknowledgement Act of 2003”) amends the Lumbee Act of June 7, 1956 to state that “the tribe is entitled to full federal acknowledgement” [Section 2 (B) (8) (A)] and that “the programs, services, and benefits that accompany that status should be extended to the Tribe and members of the Tribe” [Section 2 (B) (8) (B)]. The service population will be members of the tribe listed on the tribal roll who live in Robeson and adjoining counties in North Carolina. Indian groups in Robeson and adjoining counties whose members are not members of the Lumbee Tribe may submit a petition to the Secretary of the Interior for federal acknowledgement. Robeson County will be considered the tribe’s reservation for purposes of federal programs, services and benefits. The Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Health and Human Services will submit, each year, a budget to the President for programs, services and benefits for the tribe. In general, criminal offenses committed on land owned by or held in trust for the tribe will fall under the jurisdiction of the state of North Carolina.