Waccamaw Indian Acknowledgement Act
Bill: H.R.1942 | Sponsor: Rep. Rice, Tom (R-SC)
Policy area: Native Americans

Summary:
Waccamaw Indian Acknowledgement Act
This bill makes the Waccamaw Indian People of Conway, South Carolina, a federally recognized tribe.
The bill makes the tribe and its members eligible for services and benefits provided to federally recognized tribes and their members, without regard to the existence of a reservation or the location of the residence of any member. Members of the tribe residing in Horry County in South Carolina are deemed to be within the delivery area for services and benefits.
The tribe must submit to the Department of the Interior a membership roll as a condition of receiving recognition, services, and benefits. The tribe must also maintain the membership roll.

To extend Federal recognition to the Waccamaw Indian People of Conway, 
                South Carolina, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Waccamaw Indian Acknowledgement 
Act''.

SEC. 2. FEDERAL RECOGNITION.

    (a) Federal Recognition.--Federal recognition is extended to the 
Waccamaw Indian People of Conway, South Carolina.
    (b) Applicability of Laws.--All laws (including regulations) of the 
United States of general applicability to Indians or Nations, Indian 
Tribes, or bands of Indians (including the Act of June 18, 1934 (25 
U.S.C. 461 et seq.)) shall be applicable to the Waccamaw Indian People 
of Conway, South Carolina, and members of that Tribe.

SEC. 3. FEDERAL SERVICES AND BENEFITS.

    (a) In General.--Beginning on the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Tribe and each member shall be eligible for all services and 
benefits provided by the United States to Indians and federally 
recognized Indian tribes, without regard to--
            (1) the existence of a reservation for the Tribe; or
            (2) the location of the residence of any member on or near 
        an Indian reservation.
    (b) Service Area.--For purposes of the delivery of services and 
benefits to members, the service area of the Tribe shall be considered 
to be the area comprised of Horry County in the State of South 
Carolina.

SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP ROLL.

    (a) In General.--As a condition of receiving recognition, services, 
and benefits pursuant to this Act, the Tribe shall submit to the 
Secretary, by not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, a membership roll consisting of the name of each 
individual enrolled as a member of the Tribe.
    (b) Determination of Membership.--The qualifications for inclusion 
on the membership roll of the Tribe shall be determined in accordance 
with section A of article IV of the proposed constitution of the Tribe 
dated September 8, 2016 (including amendments to the constitution).
    (c) Maintenance of Roll.--The Tribe shall maintain the membership 
roll under this section.

SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.

    For the purposes of this Act:
            (1) Member.--The term ``member'' means an individual duly 
        enrolled in the roll of the Tribe described in section 4.
            (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.
            (3) Tribe.--The term ``Tribe'' means the Waccamaw Indian 
        People of South Carolina.
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