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. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
(2) TRIBAL MEMBER.—The term ‘‘Tribal mem-
ber’’ means— 
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(A) an individual who is an enrolled mem-
ber of the Tribe as of the date of the enactment 
of this Act; and 
(B) an individual who is placed on the 
membership rolls of the Tribe in accordance 
with this Act. 
(3) TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Tribe’’ means the 
Wassamasaw Tribe of Varnertown Indians of South 
Carolina. 
SEC. 2. FEDERAL RECOGNITION. 
(a) FEDERAL RECOGNITION.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Federal recognition is ex-
tended to the Tribe. 
(2) APPLICABILITY OF LAWS.—All laws (includ-
ing regulations) of the United States of general ap-
plicability to Indians or nations, Indian Tribes, or 
bands of Indians (including the Act of June 18, 
1934 (25 U.S.C. 461 et seq.)) that are not incon-
sistent with this Act shall be applicable to the Tribe 
and Tribal members. 
(b) FEDERAL SERVICES AND BENEFITS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Tribe and Tribal mem-
bers shall be eligible for all services and benefits pro-
vided by the Federal Government to federally recog-
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nized Indian Tribes without regard to the existence 
of a reservation for the Tribe. 
(2) SERVICE AREA.—The service area for the 
purpose of the delivery of Federal services to Tribal 
members shall be determined in coordination and 
consultation with the Secretary not later than 120 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 3. MEMBERSHIP; GOVERNING DOCUMENTS. 
The membership roll and governing documents of the 
Tribe shall be the most recent membership roll and gov-
erning documents, respectively, submitted by the Tribe to 
the Secretary before the date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 4. GOVERNING BODY. 
The governing body of the Tribe shall be— 
(1) the governing body of the Tribe in place as 
of the date of enactment of this Act; or 
(2) any subsequent governing body elected in 
accordance with the election procedures specified in 
the governing documents of the Tribe. 
SEC. 5. RESERVATION OF THE TRIBE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Upon the request of the Tribe, the 
Secretary— 
(1) shall take into trust for the benefit of the 
Tribe any lands held in fee by the Tribe that were 
acquired by the Tribe on or before January 1, 2023, 
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if such lands are located within the boundaries 
Orangeburg, 
Beaufort, 
Berkeley, 
Charleston, 
Colleton, and Dorchester counties in South Carolina; 
and 
(2) may take into trust for the benefit of the 
Tribe any lands held in fee by the Tribe, if such 
lands are located within the boundaries of Orange-
burg, Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, and 
Dorchester counties in South Carolina. 
(b) DEADLINE
FOR DETERMINATION.—Not later 
than 3 years of the date on which the Tribe submits a 
request for land to be taken into trust under subsection 
(a)(2), the Secretary shall— 
(1) make a final written determination; and 
(2) immediately make that determination avail-
able to the Tribe. 
(c) RESERVATION STATUS.—Any land taken into 
trust for the benefit of the Tribe pursuant to this section 
shall, upon the request of the Tribe, be considered part 
of the reservation of the Tribe. 
(d) GAMING.—The Tribe may not conduct gaming ac-
tivities as a matter of claimed inherent authority or under 
the authority of any Federal law, including the Indian 
Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.) or under 
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any regulations thereunder promulgated by the Secretary 
or the National Indian Gaming Commission. 
SEC. 6. HUNTING, FISHING, TRAPPING, GATHERING, AND 
WATER RIGHTS. 
Nothing in this Act expands, reduces, or affects in 
any manner any hunting, fishing, trapping, gathering, or 
water rights of the Tribe and Tribal members. 
Æ 
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