# 119-hr-4750: Patawomeck Indian Tribe of Virginia Federal Recognition Act

119-hr-4750, Patawomeck Indian Tribe of Virginia Federal Recognition Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7] (D-VA); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-07-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4750
- As of: 2026-07-19
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-4750
- Congress: 119
- Title: Patawomeck Indian Tribe of Virginia Federal Recognition Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-07-23
- Sponsor: Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7] (D-VA)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Policy area: Native Americans
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-07-19

## Summary

**Grants federal recognition** to the Patawomeck Indian Tribe of Virginia. It would define who is a Tribal member, set rules for Tribal governance, allow land to be taken into trust in certain Virginia counties, ban tribal gaming, and confirm existing natural resource rights. - Tribal members and families: Membership would be limited to people enrolled as of enactment or added to the Tribe's rolls under this title. Recognized members would be eligible for federal laws and services where those laws are consistent with the Act. - Tribal governance: The Tribe's current governing body or any body elected under the Tribe's own governing documents would serve as the official government. The Tribe's submitted governing documents and membership rolls would determine membership. - Land, rights, and limits: The Secretary of the Interior could take land into trust for the Tribe within specified Virginia counties and must issue a final written determination within 3 years after a request. The Tribe could request that trust land be treated as reservation land, the bill bars tribal gaming under federal law, clarifies hunting, fishing, trapping, gathering, and water rights, and prohibits using eminent domain to acquire lands for the Tribe.

## Cosponsors (1)

- Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1] (R-VA), 2025-07-23T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Federal recognition and services for Patawomeck Tribe: benefit, medium. If enacted, the Patawomeck Tribe would be federally recognized. Tribal members would be eligible for federal services for recognized tribes starting on enactment. No reservation would be required to get services. For service delivery, the area would be King George, Spotsylvania, and Stafford Counti…
- Trust land option in three Virginia counties: benefit, medium. If enacted, the Interior Secretary could take Patawomeck-owned land into trust in King George, Spotsylvania, or Stafford Counties, Virginia. The Secretary would have to issue a final written decision within 3 years of the Tribe’s request. If land is taken into trust, the Tribe could ask to treat it…
- No tribal gaming and no eminent domain: mixed, medium. If enacted, the Patawomeck Tribe would be barred from gaming, including under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Governments could not use eminent domain to take land for the Tribe. The bill would not change hunting, fishing, trapping, gathering, or water rights.

## Related bills

- 119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-hr-6900: American Affordability Act of 2025
- 119-hr-4669: FEMA Act of 2025
- 119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act
- 119-hr-2725: Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2025
- 119-hr-7481: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026

## Sources
- [119-hr-4750 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4750)

## Related
- [119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3151)
- [119-hr-6900: American Affordability Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-6900)
- [119-hr-4669: FEMA Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4669)
- [119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7977)
- [119-hr-2725: Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2725)
- [119-hr-7481: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7481)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4750 (as of 2026-07-19).