Among a flurry of Executive Orders, Memoranda, and other directives issued last week during the first days of President Donald Trump’s second term as US President, there was a measure to assist the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina in obtaining full federal recognition. Not only would this designation allow the Lumbee Tribe to receive hundreds of millions of dollars in federal aid for education, housing, health care, disaster relief, and other benefits, but it would also pave the way for the Tribe to establish gambling operations in Eastern North Carolina.
“NC Family does not oppose full federal recognition for the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina,” said NC Family President John L. Rustin. “We do, however, oppose the fact that full federal recognition would grant the Tribe an inherent right to establish gambling operations on tribal lands in our state. This means that full federal recognition—without an express prohibition on gambling—would enable the Lumbee Tribe to build and operate one or more massive gambling casino developments along the I-95 corridor in Eastern North Carolina.”
“In prior versions of the Lumbee Recognition Act,” Rustin continued, “the Lumbee Tribe has agreed to an express prohibition on gambling in order to advance legislation granting full federal recognition. We urge President Trump, North Carolina’s congressional delegation, and the Lumbee Tribe to agree to a prohibition on gambling should a proposal to grant full federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe move forward. Such a measure will help protect the citizens of North Carolina, especially in the eastern portion of our state, from the incredibly harmful effects of expanded gambling and gambling addiction.”
The Harms of Gambling and Gambling Addiction
For more than two decades, NC Family has researched the issue of gambling and its impact on the citizens of our state and nation. The addiction that results from the presence of gambling damages individual lives, destroys families, and plagues communities. Research consistently shows a very high correlation between gambling addiction and increases in crime, personal debt, bankruptcy, embezzlement, other forms of theft, domestic violence, child abuse, divorce, and even suicide.
Casinos exacerbate these problems because they intentionally prey upon those who suffer from gambling addiction. Moreover, while casinos offer promises of great economic benefit, these modern-day gambling developments cannibalize the local economy; take business away from existing restaurants, hotels, retailers, and tourism interests; and siphon money out of the pockets of citizens that would otherwise be saved or invested.
More About The Memorandum
According to President Trump’s Memorandum to the US Secretary of the Interior, “Within 90 days of the date of this memorandum, the Secretary of the Interior shall review all applicable authorities regarding the recognition or acknowledgement of Indian tribes and, in consultation with the leadership of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, shall submit to the President a plan to assist the Lumbee Tribe in obtaining full Federal recognition through legislation or other available mechanisms, including the right to receive full Federal benefits. … The plan shall include consideration and analysis of each potential legal pathway to effectuate full Federal recognition of the Lumbee Tribe, including through an act of the Congress, judicial action, or the Procedures for Federal Acknowledgement of Indian Tribes set forth in 25 C.F.R. Part 83.”
NC Family is submitting a formal request to members of North Carolina’s congressional delegation asking them to expressly prohibit the Lumbee Tribe from pursuing or conducting gambling operations should full Federal recognition be granted through an Act of Congress or some other form. We will provide updates on this matter as any developments arise.