I 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 5083 

To extend Federal recognition to the Wassamasaw Tribe of Varnertown 

Indians of South Carolina, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 28, 2023 

Ms. MACE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 

on Natural Resources 

A BILL 

To extend Federal recognition to the Wassamasaw Tribe 

of Varnertown Indians of South Carolina, and for other 

purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. 

4 In this Act: 

5 (1) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

6 the Secretary of the Interior. 

7 (2) TRIBAL MEMBER.—The term ‘‘Tribal mem8 ber’’ means— 


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1 (A) an individual who is an enrolled mem2 ber of the Tribe as of the date of the enactment 

3 of this Act; and 

4 (B) an individual who is placed on the 

5 membership rolls of the Tribe in accordance 

6 with this Act. 

7 (3) TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Tribe’’ means the 

8 Wassamasaw Tribe of Varnertown Indians of South 

9 Carolina. 

10 SEC. 2. FEDERAL RECOGNITION. 

11 (a) FEDERAL RECOGNITION.— 

12 (1) IN GENERAL.—Federal recognition is ex13 tended to the Tribe. 

14 (2) APPLICABILITY OF LAWS.—All laws (includ15 ing regulations) of the United States of general ap16 plicability to Indians or nations, Indian Tribes, or 

17 bands of Indians (including the Act of June 18, 

18 1934 (25 U.S.C. 461 et seq.)) that are not incon19 sistent with this Act shall be applicable to the Tribe 

20 and Tribal members. 

21 (b) FEDERAL SERVICES AND BENEFITS.— 

22 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Tribe and Tribal mem23 bers shall be eligible for all services and benefits pro24 vided by the Federal Government to federally recogVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:45 Aug 18, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H5083.IH H5083

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1 nized Indian Tribes without regard to the existence 

2 of a reservation for the Tribe. 

3 (2) SERVICE AREA.—The service area for the 

4 purpose of the delivery of Federal services to Tribal 

5 members shall be determined in coordination and 

6 consultation with the Secretary not later than 120 

7 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

8 SEC. 3. MEMBERSHIP; GOVERNING DOCUMENTS. 

9 The membership roll and governing documents of the 

10 Tribe shall be the most recent membership roll and gov11 erning documents, respectively, submitted by the Tribe to 

12 the Secretary before the date of the enactment of this Act. 

13 SEC. 4. GOVERNING BODY. 

14 The governing body of the Tribe shall be— 

15 (1) the governing body of the Tribe in place as 

16 of the date of enactment of this Act; or 

17 (2) any subsequent governing body elected in 

18 accordance with the election procedures specified in 

19 the governing documents of the Tribe. 

20 SEC. 5. RESERVATION OF THE TRIBE. 

21 (a) IN GENERAL.—Upon the request of the Tribe, the 

22 Secretary— 

23 (1) shall take into trust for the benefit of the 

24 Tribe any lands held in fee by the Tribe that were 

25 acquired by the Tribe on or before January 1, 2023, 


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1 if such lands are located within the boundaries 

2 Orangeburg, Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, 

3 Colleton, and Dorchester counties in South Carolina; 

4 and 

5 (2) may take into trust for the benefit of the 

6 Tribe any lands held in fee by the Tribe, if such 

7 lands are located within the boundaries of Orange8 burg, Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, and 

9 Dorchester counties in South Carolina. 

10 (b) DEADLINE FOR DETERMINATION.—Not later 

11 than 3 years of the date on which the Tribe submits a 

12 request for land to be taken into trust under subsection 

13 (a)(2), the Secretary shall— 

14 (1) make a final written determination; and 

15 (2) immediately make that determination avail16 able to the Tribe. 

17 (c) RESERVATION STATUS.—Any land taken into 

18 trust for the benefit of the Tribe pursuant to this section 

19 shall, upon the request of the Tribe, be considered part 

20 of the reservation of the Tribe. 

21 (d) GAMING.—The Tribe may not conduct gaming ac22 tivities as a matter of claimed inherent authority or under 

23 the authority of any Federal law, including the Indian 

24 Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.) or under 


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1 any regulations thereunder promulgated by the Secretary 

2 or the National Indian Gaming Commission. 

3 SEC. 6. HUNTING, FISHING, TRAPPING, GATHERING, AND 

4 WATER RIGHTS. 

5 Nothing in this Act expands, reduces, or affects in 

6 any manner any hunting, fishing, trapping, gathering, or 

7 water rights of the Tribe and Tribal members. 

Æ 


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