The U.S. House passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on Wednesday by a vote of 312-112, advancing the Lumbee Fairness Act, which was included in the legislation.
Lumbee Tribal Chairman John Lowery watched the vote with members of the Lumbee administration. “First, I want to thank God for his blessings on our people,” Lowery said. “I would also like to thank Speaker Johnson and House leadership, along with Congressman Rouzer, and Congressman Harris and the rest of the bipartisan North Carolina House delegation that supported our bill. I want to thank President Trump and his White House team for ensuring that our bill stayed a priority during the NDAA negotiations.”
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Lowery said the tribe is now focused on Senate passage. “We now look forward to the next step, which is passage in the United States Senate,” he said. He added that he will continue working with Sens. Thom Tillis and Ted Budd to advance the measure.
White the Lumbee are happy, the Eastern Band of Cherokee oppose the Lumbee Fairness Act insertion into the NDAA.
“A national defense bill is not the appropriate place to consider federal recognition, particularly for a group that has not met the historical and legal standards required of sovereign tribal nations,” Michell Hicks, chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians said.
The U.S. Senate is expected to take up the NDAA next week. Lowery asked Lumbee citizens to continue praying for tribal leadership, lawmakers and the successful passage of the legislation.
