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| Webb, Moran and Kaine push for recognition of Virginia tribes |
| Sep 29,2008 |
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Last year, Virginia celebrated the 400th anniversary of Jamestown., America’s first colony. This week, Virginia lawmakers were on Capitol Hill pushing for the state's six tribes to join the nation’s other 562 federally-recognized tribes.
Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) testified at a Senate Committee on Indian Affairs hearing to push for passage of legislation to federally recognize six of Virginia’s Indian tribes. Rep. Jim Moran (VA-08), the House sponsor of the legislation, and Governor Tim Kaine also testified at Thursday’s hearing in support of the legislation.
The hearing was scheduled after repeated requests and a letter to Chairman Byron Dorgan from Senator Webb urging consideration of the bill. The House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved the legislation in May 2007.
The “Thomasina E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act of 2007” (H.R. 1294) would qualify six of Virginia’s tribes for benefits provided through the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and other federal agencies.
The tribes include the Chickahominy Tribe; the Chickahominy Indian Tribe – Eastern Division; the Upper Mattaponi Tribe; the Rappahannock Tribe, Inc.; the Monacan Indian Nation; and the Nansemond Indian Tribe.
“I appreciate your willingness to hold this hearing. This is not a new issue for this Committee and you have heard support for these six Virginia tribes from many individuals throughout the 15 years since they began seeking federal recognition. These six tribes are the Chickahominy, Chickahominy Indian Tribe Eastern Division, the Upper Mattaponi, the Rappahannock, the Monacan, and the Nansemond Indian Tribe.
"The tribes covered by this bill gained state recognition in the Commonwealth of Virginia between 1983 and 1989," Webb said. "I believe it is appropriate for them to finally receive the federal recognition that has been denied for far too long."
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