As the 2025 legislative session gets underway in the nation’s capital awaiting the imminent inauguration of President Donald Trump, two congressmen from North Carolina are filing legislation he’s already signaled he’d sign.
Republican Reps. Mark Harris, NC-08, and David Rouzer, NC-07, will introduce Wednesday the Lumbee Fairness Act, a bill granting full federal recognition and benefits to the North Carolina’s Native American Lumbee Tribe.
“For far too long, the Lumbee Tribe has been wrongfully denied federal recognition – but now more than ever we are closer to that goal,” said Harris in a statement to Carolina Journal. “Last Congress, members across the aisle overwhelmingly supported giving full federal recognition and rights to the Lumbee Tribe – and we can’t lose that momentum now.”
During the closing days of the last Congress, an identical bill passed the US House of Representatives with bipartisan support, 311-96.
“The federal government has denied generations of Lumbee Tribe members the full recognition and tribal sovereignty granted to other federally-recognized tribes,” said Rouzer in a statement to Carolina Journal. “The Lumbee Fairness Act corrects the wrongs written in statute during the Indian Termination era and restores the rightful benefits and services the Lumbee Tribe has long been refused. This legislation received broad bipartisan support during this past Congress, a symbol of the understanding and support for the sovereignty of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina.”
Harris, a new addition to the House Republican caucus, joins Rouzer in reintroducing the bill this week.
The Lumbee Tribe primarily resides within the 7th Congressional District, which Harris was elected to represent. He joins veteran lawmaker Rouzer, whose district also includes Lumbee interests, in reintroducing the bill following supportive comments from Trump on the campaign trail last fall.
During a rally in September, 2024, the former and incoming president said he would, “sign legislation granting the great Lumbee Tribe federal recognition that it deserves.”
The Act would give full federal recognition to the tribe, which means full federal services and benefits for members across Robeson, Cumberland, Hoke, and Scotland counties. Practically, the benefits include access to healthcare through the Indian Health Service, as well as eligibility for various federal funding programs for housing, education, and economic development.
Robeson County, where the Lumbee Tribe is centered, is one of the poorest in the state. At 27.7% in 2023, its poverty rate is more than double the average for North Carolina and the nation. Median household income in Robeson County in 2023 was $40,318.
NC House Rep. Jarrod Lowery, R-Robeson, a Lumbee and Marine Corps veteran, previously told Carolina Journal he was appreciative of Trump’s support.
“I’m glad President Trump supports full federal recognition for the Lumbee people,” Lowery said. “He understands that ending the nearly 70 year termination policy that Congress put on the Lumbee Tribe will finally conclude the 130 year journey for justice that has been sought by the Lumbee people. Full federal recognition is about fairness and increased economic opportunities that will be a huge economic impact for southeastern North Carolina.”
Lowery’s brother, John Lowery, is Chairman of the Lumbee Tribal Council.
“Just last month, the House of Representatives passed the Lumbee Fairness Act and I am pleased to learn Congressman David Rouzer and Mark Harris are reintroducing the bill once again,” said Chairman Lowery of the legislation. “We have so much momentum for our bill, and I look forward to working with them to get this passed in the House during the 119th Congress.”
As a voting block the Lumbee represent one of the most significant political swings to the right over recent presidential election cycles. Nearly 60% of the county went for President Barack Obama in 2012; in 2016, Trump bested Democrat Hillary Clinton in the county by more than 4%; Trump again bested the Democratic candidate Joe Biden in 2020 by 18%; and, in 2024 the county went for Trump, over Democrat Kamala Harris, by nearly 30%.
“With over 55,000 individuals, the Lumbee people are a core part of my district and North Carolina – I am honored to be their advocate in Washington,” Harris concluded to Carolina Journal. “As one of my first acts in Congress, I promise to use every tool at my disposal to see the Lumbee Fairness Act signed into law. I am thankful for Representative Rouzer being a long-time champion for the Lumbee Tribe – let’s get this legislation over the finish line!”
You can follow the bill’s progress and more of what federal lawmakers are up to on Capitol Hill here.