Congress has the power to recognize these Tribes. It has exercised this power in the past, and it should exercise this power again with respect to our Virginia Tribes.

I commend the committee for giving its time and attention to the Thomasina E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act.

These applications have been denied as incomplete.

Neither of these reasons should stand as a bar to recognition of these tribes.

The State of North Carolina has already by state law recognized the Lumbee Indians under that tribal name. Giving official recognition to the Lumbee Indians means a great deal to the 4,000 Indians involved.

We are honored to be testifying here today alongside the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Timothy Kaine, who, in his inaugural address, pledged his strong support for Federal recognition of these Virginia Indian tribes and has…

The practice was supported when the eugenics movement...was endorsed by Virginia universities.

We think that as a matter of equity and good conscience it is time for the Lumbee Tribe to be recognized.

I appreciate it.

We can say with confidence that among these tribes there is at least one Silver Star winner, two Bronze Star winners...

It is absolutely long overdue, and I appreciate, Governor, your leadership and, Representative Moran, your leadership on this issue.

There is no doubt the Jamestown settlement would have perished if it had not been for the forbearance and the assistance of the Virginia tribes who enabled it to survive.

But it was scrutiny of the historic records and academic materials and oral folklore of the tribe members themselves.

If I could write it myself, I would rather have them have the exact same rights as Virginia citizens have--no more, no less--and we don't have gaming in Virginia.

I strongly believe that our recent commemoration of the 400 years of modern Virginia history will be incomplete without successful Federal recognition of these Virginia Tribes.

It is time for these Virginia native peoples to be recognized by their own country.

It should not be held against these tribes that they made peace with our people before there was an American government.

To begin, I want to thank the Chair for your leadership on this issue and your support for the Virginia tribes.