news-record.com

In all fairness, the Lumbee Indians are entitled to federal tribal recognition. After all, North Carolina granted that status way back in 1885.

Hopefully, bipartisan legislation sponsored by the state's two U.S. senators, Republican Richard Burr and Democrat Kay Hagan, can, finally, produce results. But, considering past disappointments, it's far from a certainty.

The Senate always has been the stumbling block. One member can keep the legislation from the floor, and in years past that role was filled by a filibustering Jesse Helms.

More recently, bipartisanship has prevailed. John Edwards and Elizabeth Dole both backed giving Lumbees long-overdue tribal recognition. That continues with Burr and Hagan.

In June, the U.S. House, in a 240-179 bipartisan vote, approved a very similar bill sponsored by Democrat Mike McIntyre of Lumberton. However, Reps. Heath Shuler, a Democrat, and Republican Patrick McHenry tried to sidetrack it. Both represent western North Carolina districts, where members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians reside. That tribe has long opposed recognition, saying Lumbees can't sufficiently trace their tribal roots. But other factors also come into play as well.

The Cherokees operate a booming casino business and have feared in-state Indian competition. As a result, those concerns were addressed in McIntyre's bill, which specifically prohibits the Lumbee tribal council from engaging in gambling operations.

Federal recognition is more than a status symbol. It means several rural southeastern counties could qualify for economic incentives to attract much-needed industry and jobs. Other federal programs would provide health services to the estimated 37,000 Lumbees living in that area.

Yet only so much money is available and already-recognized tribes fear losing out to newcomers. As a stalling tactic, they want the Lumbees to seek recognition through the Bureau of Indian Affairs. However, a 1956 federal law specifically forbids taking that path.

Burr has said, "Congress once and for all needs to determine this issue." Hagan has added, "Recognition is long overdue." Campaigning in North Carolina, Barack Obama strongly backed recognition, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs also is on board.

So far, no one has presented a credible case in Congress against doing what should have been done decades ago. It's time to set aside petty jealousies and baseless opposition.

Besides being a matter of fairness, federal recognition would boost the state's economy and raise the quality of life for many people, not just Lumbees.