Early access: 15,547 bills from the current Congress so far, more added daily. Data from Congress.gov, GovInfo and the House and Senate vote records, updated Oct 13, 2026.
Public Law TrackerPLTPublic Law Tracker
H.R. 3838IntroducedHouseSenate · nowPresidentLawIn the Senate
Sec. 1733C · H.R. 3838

Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina

Division A — Department of Defense Authorizations › Title XVII — Other Defense Matters › Subtitle B — Other Matters

Read this section in the full bill →

This section appears in one version only, so there is nothing to compare yet.

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, the term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.; and (7) by adding at the end the following: 4. Federal recognition (a) In general Federal recognition is extended to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina (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 Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina and its members. 5. Eligibility for Federal services (a) In general The Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina 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 Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina 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 Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, a determination of needs to provide the services for which members of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina 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 Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. (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 Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina adopted on November 16, 2001; and (B) be completed not later than 2 years after the submission of a digitized roll by the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina 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 Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. (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 Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, or any dependent Indian community of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, 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 Pursuant to section 403 of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (25 U.S.C. 1323), and 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 Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina pursuant to an agreement between the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina 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)..