Bill Text: VA HR5 | 2018 | Regular Session | Prefiled
Bill Title: Indian tribes in Virginia, certain; memorizing United States Senate to federally recognize.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-02-13 - Left in Rules [HR5 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2018-HR5-Prefiled.html
WHEREAS, the first European settlers at Jamestown more than 400 years ago were welcomed by members of several native Indian tribes whose descendants are still present in the Commonwealth today; and
WHEREAS, despite their long presence in Virginia and state recognition, six tribes—the Chickahominy Indian Tribe, the Chickahominy Indian Tribe – Eastern Division, the Upper Mattaponi Tribe, the Rappahannock Tribe, Inc., the Monacan Indian Nation Tribe, and the Nansemond Indian Tribe—are not formally acknowledged by the federal government; and
WHEREAS, concerted efforts to change the tribes' recognition status led to the introduction this year of H.R. 984, the Thomasina E. Jordon Indian Tribes of Virginia Recognition Act, which provides for formal federal recognition and certain tribal benefits, including access to educational and health care services for tribe members; and
WHEREAS, support for H.R. 984 has gained momentum recently, passing the House of Representatives by a voice vote on May 17, 2017, and being reported favorably by the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs on September 13, 2017; and
WHEREAS, the bill addresses many past concerns regarding gaming, jurisdiction, and land-into-trust issues by providing for an airtight prohibition on gaming and imposing limits on the lands that might be placed in trust by the Bureau of Indian Affairs; and
WHEREAS, the bill is currently in a posture to be considered on the floor by the Senate, which in the past has not acted favorably on tribal recognition bills; and
WHEREAS, in 2019, the Commonwealth will celebrate the 400th anniversary of the establishment of the first General Assembly, and it is appropriate to secure federal recognition of the tribes who share in the Commonwealth's and the nation's early history in time for this momentous occasion; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That the United States Senate be urged to pass H.R. 984, the Thomasina E. Jordon Indian Tribes of Virginia Recognition Act; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates transmit copies of this resolution to the President of the United States Senate and Virginia's United States Senators so that they may be apprised of the sense of the Virginia House of Delegates in this matter.
