Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indian Tribe of Southampton County, Virginia, Federal Recognition Act
Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indian Tribe: Federal Recognition
This bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process after being sent to the House Committee on Natural Resources for review. It is considered active, but no further hearings or votes have been scheduled at this time.
Legislative Progress
Recognition bills for single tribes often face long delays in Congress and frequently fail to move past the committee stage without broad national support.
Key Points
- This bill would officially recognize the Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indian Tribe of Southampton County, Virginia, as an independent tribal government. While the tribe is already recognized by the state of Virginia, federal status would allow them to work directly with the U.S. government on equal footing with other tribes.
- The tribe and its members would become eligible for federal programs and services. This includes access to specialized healthcare through the Indian Health Service, as well as federal grants for education, housing, and job training that are currently unavailable to them.
- The Department of the Interior would be required to take certain lands in Southampton County and hold them in trust for the tribe. This creates a permanent home or reservation for the group. However, the bill strictly forbids the tribe from using this land for gambling or opening a casino.
- The bill helps the tribe overcome historical records issues. In the early 1900s, Virginia laws forced many Native Americans to be listed as other races on birth and death certificates. This bill acknowledges that these past actions made it very hard for the tribe to prove their history through regular government channels.
Impact Analysis
Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.
Milestones
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
News
No related news coverage found for this legislation yet.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indian Tribe of Southampton County, Virginia, Federal Recognition Act
Data Sources
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