HR-4750 — Patawomeck Indian Tribe of Virginia Federal Recognition Act

YourVoice.Now Summary

Your MoneyCivil LibertiesTransparency & Accountability

Federal recognition for Virginia's Patawomeck Tribe — members could get federal services, though casinos stay barred.

Your Money

Federal benefits tribal members can get — health care, housing, school aid

Once the bill became law, tribal members could use the federal programs open to recognized tribes, such as Indian Health Service care, housing help, and school aid. The government would deliver those services in King George, Spotsylvania, and Stafford Counties, Virginia.

Civil Liberties

Tribe's control over membership and leadership — its own rules stand

The tribe's member list and its governing rules would stand as the tribe last filed them with the Interior Department. Its current leaders stay in place until the tribe holds its own election.

Tribe's land held in federal trust — three Virginia counties

The tribe could ask the Interior Department to hold land the tribe already owns, and that land could then become its reservation. Only land in King George, Spotsylvania, or Stafford County qualifies, and the department is not required to say yes.

Protection from land seizure — cannot be used for Tribe land

Governments can sometimes force a sale of private land for public use. The bill says that power could not be used to get land for the tribe.

Tribe's ability to run casinos — barred, unlike other recognized tribes

Most federally recognized tribes may run gaming under federal law. This bill would block the Patawomeck from doing so, either under that law or on its own claimed power.

Transparency & Accountability

Deadline for the Tribe's land requests — 3 years

The Interior Department would have to give the tribe a final written answer within three years of a land request. It would have to hand that answer to the tribe right away.

More about this bill

If you are not a member of the Patawomeck Indian Tribe, you would notice no change. For tribal members in King George, Spotsylvania, and Stafford Counties, Virginia, several things would change. The federal government would recognize the tribe. Members could then use federal tribal programs, such as health care, housing help, and school aid. That access would start the day the bill became law. The tribe could ask the Interior Department to hold land it owns in trust. Trust land is land the government holds for a tribe, and it can become a reservation. Only land in those three counties would count. The department would have to answer within three years. The bill also bars the tribe from running casinos. And no one's land could be taken by force to build the tribe's land base. Hunting, fishing, and water rights would stay as they are.

Congressional Summary

Extends federal recognition to the Patawomeck Indian Tribe of Virginia and explicitly prohibits gaming activities by the tribe.

Legislative Subjects

Native AmericansFederal recognitionVirginiaTribal rightsGaming prohibition

Details

Congress: 119th
Chamber
Status: summarized
Action
Action Date: 2025-07-23
Date Added: 2026-03-31
Source: Congress.gov →

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