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119-hr-10435119th CongressWALLET

Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas Recognition Act

Sponsored By: Representative Gonzalez, Vicente [D-TX-34]

Introduced

Summary

This bill would grant federal recognition to the Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas, making the tribe and its members eligible for federal Indian services and benefits once the tribe completes membership verification.

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  • Tribal members and families would become eligible for federal programs and benefits under existing Indian laws, including the Indian Reorganization Act. The tribe would need to submit its latest membership roll and governing documents to the Secretary and complete membership verification within 2 years after providing a digitized roll.
  • The Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Health and Human Services would jointly assess the tribe’s service needs after verification and must send a written statement of those needs to Congress in the first fiscal year after verification.
  • The tribe could use its current governing body or any later-elected body under its own rules as its official government for this recognition, and the tribe would maintain and verify its membership roll according to its governing documents.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.

Federal recognition and services eligibility

If enacted, the Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas would become a federally recognized tribe. If you are a Tribal member, you would become eligible for the same Federal services and benefits other recognized tribes get. That eligibility would only begin after the Interior Secretary verifies the Tribe's membership roll and after the Interior and HHS Secretaries each develop needs determinations with the Tribe. The bill would also define a "Tribal member" as someone enrolled on the enactment date or later placed on the Tribe's roll under this Act, and it would require the service area to be set within 120 days after enactment.

Membership roll verification rules

If enacted, the Tribe would have to submit its current membership roll and governing documents to the Interior Secretary when the bill is enacted. The Tribe must digitize the roll and provide documentary proof showing members meet the submitted membership criteria. The Secretary would be limited to checking documentary compliance and must finish verification not later than 2 years after the Tribe's digitized submission. You would only be eligible for federal services tied to recognition if your name appears on that verified roll.

Who speaks for the Tribe

If enacted, the law would say the Tribe's governing body for federal dealings is the governing body in place on the enactment date. It would also allow any later governing body elected under the Tribe's own submitted rules to serve as the Tribe's official governing body for this Act.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Gonzalez, Vicente [D-TX-34]

TX • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 10/5/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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