Haliwa Saponi Indian Tribe of North Carolina Act

This legislation formally extends the full measure of the Federal Government-to-government relationship to the Haliwa Saponi Indian Tribe of North Carolina. This recognition makes the Tribe and its members eligible for all federal services and benefits provided to federally recognized Indian Tribes, even without an existing reservation. The bill defines the Tribe's service area to encompass Halifax, Warren, Nash, Franklin, Vance, and Granville counties in North Carolina, and specifies that the Tribe's current membership roll will determine the service population. The bill includes findings that highlight the Tribe's continuous historical existence, its recognition by the State of North Carolina since 1965, and its long-term receipt of federal funding for education and housing. These findings underscore the Tribe's established identity and its existing relationships with state and federal entities. Crucially, the legislation also authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to take land into trust for the Tribe's benefit and to proclaim a reservation, which would be treated as an initial reservation under federal law.