G. K. Butterfield: “I thank the gentleman very much for yielding time this afternoon. I rise, Mr. Speaker, in strong support of H.R. 1964…”

“I thank the gentleman very much for yielding time this afternoon. I rise, Mr. Speaker, in strong support of H.R. 1964, the Lumbee Recognition Act, and I urge my colleagues to vote for its passage. Mr. Speaker, let me just take a moment to thank the chairman of the committee--he is not here today--Mr. Grijalva. I thank him so very much for his friendship and for his leadership on this issue. I thank Mr. Huffman for managing the floor today and recognizing me for just a few moments. And to the ranking member, Mr. Bishop from Utah, I thank him so very much. He is the ranking member of the committee, and I thank him for his leadership as well. Mr. Speaker, I particularly want to thank Mr. Hudson--I don't see Mr. Hudson on the floor, but I know he is very close by--and my friend, Mr. Bishop from North Carolina. I thank both of them for their unwavering support for this legislation. I might say that Robeson County--someone mentioned ``Robeson County'' a few moments ago; it is actually ``Robeson County''--is a part of Mr. Bishop's Ninth Congressional District. This bill, Mr. Speaker, will finally extend full Federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, making its members eligible for the same services and benefits provided to members of other federally recognized Tribes. Most importantly, the bill will establish once and for all the Lumbee Tribe as an independent and sovereign entity under Federal law. North Carolina, as Mr. Bishop, I believe, or Mr.…”