House suspend the rules and pass bill h. R. 1964, as amended. The speaker pro tempore the clerk will report the title of the bill. The clerk h. R. 1964, a bill to provide for the recognition of of north tribe carolina, and for other purposes. The speaker pro tempore the ant to the rule, gentleman from california, mr. Huffman, and the gentleman from utah, mr. Bishop, will each minutes. 0 the chair recognizes the gentleman from california. R. Huffman thank you, mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days to revise and and include remarks extraneous material on the consideration. The speaker pro tempore without objection, so ordered. Mr. Huffman mr. Speaker, i yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. H. R. 1964, the lumbee recognition act, introduced by our colleague from North Carolina, mr. Butterfield, ill finally extend recognition to the lumbee tribe of North Carolina. He lumbee tribe resides cumberlandn roboson, in that state. S has approximately 60,000 members. Its the largest tribe in North Carolina. Also, the largest tribe east of the mississippi river. Ninth largest tribe in america. In 1885, this tribe was of northd by the state carolina. It then sought federal recognition from the united 1889, and theyve been seeking that recognition ever since. Years, past 130 numerous bills have been introduced in congress to lumbee recognize the people, resulting in a number of hearing transcripts and reports, in addition, numerous Academic Studies have lumbee an aken on social securitiry and reports asked and requests and reports and they conclude thing. The lumbee people are indeed a selfgoverning Indian Community that has been continuously and undeniably roboson area. In 1955, the lumbee tribe sought federal recognition. Was during y, this the era known as the termination era, when the United States ought to terminate relationships with tribal governments and force the assimilation of indigenous mainstream american society. To that end, the department of nterior recommended that congress amend the legislation the ny eligibility for benefits and Services Available to the tribe recognized under the bill. Enacted this amended legislation in 1956, the dubious effect of federally usly recognizing them. Then terminating them. They attempted to restore their ederal recognition, this time created area wly at the department of interior. To were not able participate because congress, pursuant to that 1956 act, had terminated relationship with the tribe and, therefore, only congress could restore the relationship. Xfrmly exactly what enactment of this bill will accomplish. Ederal recognition is the formal establishment of a governmenttogovernment relationship between the united tribal nation. Its importance to tribes cannot overstated. Federal recognition allows a tribe to establish a homeland nd to put land into trust to protect future generations. This in turn allows the tribe to own resources, gives them control over local urisdiction and taxation issues, recognition also ntitles tribal people to distinctive benefits, including eligibility to participate in many federal programs, including education. And thats why enactment of this bill is so vital to the lumbee why theyve been seeking federal recognition for so very long. That were s terminated by congressional action have come before ongress, and theyve had their relationship reestablish through legislation. It is finally time we act on and extend tive federal recognition to the lumbee tribe. Representative butterfield for being the champion of this bipartisan its quick and urge adoption. With that i reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the reserves. For what purpose does the gentleman from utah seek recognition . Mr. Ishop thank you, speaker. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Bishop thank you very much. To sh to yield five minutes the gentleman from North Carolina, who has the proper last name, if not the correct name, representative bishop. Or as much time as he may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Bishop thank you, mr. Speaker. I thank the Ranking Member for yielding. State of North Carolina has recognized the of north ians carolina, but today marks the first time in u. S. History since lumbee first sought federal recognition in 1885 that legislation for full and bona fide recognition will pass the companion while a bill awaits action in the u. S. Senate, strongly favored by two senators and with the president of the United States having promised to sign that will tion result. Or 64 years, the 66,000 strong lumbee have existed in a kind of reflects theo that worst of our federal government. Congress passed a law simultaneously granting and nition of the tribe terminating it, according to the movement of that era. Act, said the legislation, shall make such indians eligible for any performed by the United States for indians because of their status as indians. None of the statutes frt United States, which affect indians, because of their status indians, should be applicable to the lumbee indians. If they heard about equal protection. For the opponents of lumbee including other tribes, it has always been about there ey and, of course, have been fellow travelers motivated by racial prejudice or neglect. It cannot be disputed, though, for three mbee have centuries been a cohesive and community of schools living was the lumber river, which known as drowning creek. Although the lumbee have also names, they other are the continuously present and on a map le shown drawn in 1725, whose common on a surnames appear document written in 1771 such as chavis, sweat, and groom. They are the lumbee who were swamp in the community now known as pros pkt, where i visited just weeks ago prospect, just weeks ago. My kinlaws were adjacent to robison. Trace a genealogy to the early 1700s, and our family lumbees ved, like the did. Before once mcinlaws and poor but lucks, scotirish. I can only imagine what it would mean to me to have been singled out by the United States centuries of official disregard and denial of identity. That is the long standing injustice that we are correcting today. And the happy ending is already eing written by the lumbee themselves. I know the lumbee. Know the warriors ball and lumbee homecoming. Maine. Pembroke and old the lumbee cultural center. And even the cozy corner. Lumbee are supremely patriotic americans, devoted to delivering the cause of involvement. Civic proud of their community. Loving. And welcoming to strangers. Best of america and only and the only honorable states or the United Congress is to accord them their last. Cognition at long thanks to representatives butterfield, hudson, grijalva, Ranking Member rob bishop, staunch supporters of of justice, pursuit and also to president trump. When i had the right moment to to the president s attention, in characteristic he made no promise other than to give it a close look. And when he decided to throw his behind recognition, he did it all the way, including tell ing to lumberton to the lumbee himself. Today is a gratifying capstone term in the partial u. S. House. I urge us unanimously to pass the lumbee recognition act, and back. D the speaker pro tempore the yields. N the gentleman from california is recognized. Mr. Huffman mr. Speaker, i yield such time as he may the gentleman from North Carolina. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from North Carolina is recognized. Very tterfield thank you much for yielding time this afternoon, and thank you, mr. Speaker, for recognizing me. Mr. Speaker, in strong support of h. R. 1964, the lumbee recognition act. I urge my colleagues to vote for its passage. Let me take a moment to thank the chairman of the committee. Here today, mr. Grijalva. I thank him so much for his leadership on this issue. I thank you, mr. Huffman, for managing the floor today and ecognizing me for just a few moments. And to the Ranking Member, mr. Bishop of utah, i thank you so very much, sir. Yield the Ranking Member of the committee and thank you for well. Eadership as i particularly want to thank mr. Hudson. I dont see mr. Hudson on the floor. Close by. S very and to my friend, mr. Bishop, i them for ank both of their unwavering support for this legislation. Robeson county, somebody mentioned robison Robeson County is part of mr. Bishops ninth congressional district. Bill, mr. Speaker, will finally it will finally recognition ederal to the lumbee tribe of north its members e eligible for the same services and benefits provided to members federally recognized tribes. Ost importantly, the bill will establish once and for all the independent as an and sovereign entity under federal law. Carolina, as mr. Bishop, i believe, or mr. Huffman mentioned a moment ago, has the lumbee tribe even 1885 and this body, recognized the lumbees in the 1950s, but during the dog days era, they ination refused to allow the lumbee fundedccess to federally services and benefits. Almost all of the tribes that terminated in this troubling era has since been to federal recognition. E are long overdue in delivering the same justice to the lumbee tribe. His legislation, mr. Speaker, has tremendous bipartisan today, as you can see tremendous bipartisan support thats only accelerated over the past few months. September, under chairman grijalvas leadership, the Natural ResourcesCommittee Bill by a voice vote. It was noncontroversial. Thereafter, democratic leader steny hoyer announced his full federal recognition for the lumbee nation, and his intention to floor. He bill to the r. Hoyer told me, and he told chairman godwin in a telephone call a few weeks ago he would h. R. 1964 to l, 16. Floor on november today is november 16. Hen, during the president ial campaign, joe biden gave his unconditional support for this president , and trump, as mr. Bishop said, did so as well. Now is the time for the house to get this done. When this legislation passes, it my fervent hope that our Senate Colleagues from both parties will support passage and to the president s desk for his immediate signature. In closing, mr. Speaker, let me the house that this legislation has been before this the years imes over since i have been in congress. Recall democratic congressman Mike Mcintyre repeatedly introducing this legislation in and 111th congress. The house passed this never, ever but it saw the light in the other body. And im not suggesting they didnt support it previously, it was another time and another congress, but appears the legislation has support of senator burr and senator tillis and should be considered in the senate. I ask my colleagues in the lumbee nation and grant them their long overdue full federal recognition. I ask my colleagues to vote aye on h. R. 1964. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from california reserves. Mr. Huffman i ask unanimous consent to enter into the record an email from the c. B. O. While we dont have a score, we have an email confirming that the bill will not affect direct spending or revenues. The speaker pro tempore without objection, so ordered. Mr. Huffman resevere the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from utah is recognized. Mr. Bishop i yield myself such time as i may consume. This long standing issue has been one that has been before many congresses, so i appreciate mr. Butterfield for his efforts and mr. Bishop, North Carolina representatives, bringing your state together and coming up together. The issue with the lumbees goes back to 1956, but also had starting in 1988, 1989 and finishing in the last administration, conflicting opinions from slors of the interior department that have caused this problem regarding the lumbee tribe and what they may or may not pursue as far as administrative action or other issues that are dealt with. The proper way when there are conflicting opinions is for congress to step up and do its responsibility and its duty and hat is what house bill 1964, which was a wonderful year for me, i remember it well, it allows congress to do its responsibility by taking these conflicting opinions and stating what is the purpose and intent of congress, that is the right way of doing things. Far too often have we tried to use administrative short cuts when we find that it produces longterm problems for us. So i commend representative bishop of North Carolina not only for a great name but for the fact you are representing your constituency extremely well and doing it in the proper way in bringing a piece of legislation to us for markup. I appreciate the letter that was mentioned by mr. Huffman as well, because it is significant. One of the things that the Majority Party has to do is make sure there is a c. B. O. Score attached to this bill. Perhaps it goes all the way through. But we have overlooked those in the past. We dont necessarily overlook them in future. But i appreciate what you are doing with this process and it is a positive thing and i would urge the members who are here or not here to cast this one in the affirmative because it is something that needs to be done and i applaud to get unity in the delegation of North Carolina to move forward with it. With that, i reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. The gentleman from california is recognized. Mr. Huffman i request an aye vote and yield. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. Mr. Bishop i yield. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from utah yields. The question is will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill h. R. 1964 as amended. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair, 2 3 being in the affirmative, the rules are suspended, the bill is passed and without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid pon the table. For what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition . Mr. Huffman i move the house suspend the rules and pass the bill h. R. 6237 as amended. The speaker pro tempore the clerk will report the title of the bill. The clerk h. R. 6237 a bill to amend the Indian Health care improvement act to clarify the department of Veterans Affairs and department of defense to reimburse the Indian Health service for certain services. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from california, mr. Huffman, and mr. Bishop, the gentleman from utah will each control 20 minutes. Mr. Huffman i ask unanimous consent that all members may include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration. The speaker pro tempore the speaker pro tempore without objection, so ordered. Mr. Huffman i yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Huffman mr. Speaker, thank you. The bill before us, h. R. 6237 is the p. R. C. For native veterans act introduced by representative gallego. This bill will ensure that native veterans can access high Quality Health care. Providing for the health care of our veterans should be one of our Top Priorities including the care of approximately 150,000 native veterans that have served our country. And by law, a native veteran is eligible to receive services under both the v. A. And Indian Health services and can choose whichever one to use. Where a native veteran is eligible for service from both the v. A. And i. H. S. , the v. A. Is considered the primary player, the v. A. Reimburses i. H. S. For any direct care they provide. Here is the problem that sometimes arises. With the purchase referred care program known as p. R. C. I. R. S. Are not always able to provide the necessary Health Services a tribal member may need and in order to bridge that gap, the p. R. C. Authorizes the purchase of services from private providers when care is not available at facilities. And during the permanent reauthorization of the Indian Health care improvement act. Congress required v. A. To reimburse tribes for Health Services provided under that p. R. C. Program. But the v. A. Now claims that this language does not statutorily require them to refee ferrell services. The v. A. Instead insists that the referral must come from them. And that creates problems. It means that the native veterans who arrive at tribal facilities needing sperget care e forced to travel extreme miles. These extra steps cause significant hardship for native veterans and can delay critical care. The result is that many i. H. S. And tribal facilities are referring native veterans out for sperget care and then paying for it with themselves with their meager funds so the patient can be treated in a timely and competent manner. This bill clarifies that the. A. Is responsible for reimbursing for Specialty Care provided through referral. I think we can agree our native veterans should have access to the quality care they need no matter where they choose to cease it. I thank representative gallego for championing this bill. And i urge its quick adoption. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. The gentleman from utah is recognized. Mr. Bishop thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as i may consume. I wish to support h. R. 6237, which is officially the proper and reimbursed care for fate i have americans act. Over the last century, native veterans have served in the Armed Services at a hire exapta rate than any other ethnicity. And with veterans hee day occurring last week as the veterans opening memorial. I think those who have served and continue to serve in th