# 119-hr-5144: Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indian Tribe of Southampton County, Virginia, Federal Recognition Act

119-hr-5144, Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indian Tribe of Southampton County, Virginia, Federal Recognition Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2] (R-VA); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-09-16).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5144
- As of: 2026-09-16
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-5144
- Congress: 119
- Title: Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indian Tribe of Southampton County, Virginia, Federal Recognition Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-09-04
- Sponsor: Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2] (R-VA)
- Cosponsors: 4
- Policy area: Native Americans
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-16

## Summary

**Grants federal recognition** to the Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indian Tribe of Southampton County, Virginia so the Tribe and its members would become eligible for federal Indian services and subject to federal Indian laws. - Tribal citizens would be eligible for all federal services and benefits available to federally recognized tribes, without regard to whether a reservation exists. The Secretary of the Interior would have 120 days to coordinate the service area for delivering those services. - The Tribe's most recent membership roll and governing documents submitted to the Department of the Interior would determine membership and official governance. Upon request, the Secretary would be required to take into trust tribal fee lands acquired on or before January 1, 2007 that lie within Southampton County and make a final determination within 3 years of the request. - The Tribe would be prohibited from conducting gaming under any claimed inherent authority or under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. The Act would not change any hunting, fishing, trapping, gathering, or water rights of the Tribe and Tribal citizens.

## Cosponsors (4)

- Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3] (D-VA), 2025-10-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1] (R-VA), 2026-02-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Salazar, Maria Elvira [R-FL-27] (R-FL), 2026-06-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McGuire, John J. [R-VA-5] (R-VA), 2026-09-14T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Take Tribe land into federal trust: benefit, medium. If enacted, the Secretary would take certain Tribe-owned land into federal trust if the Tribe asks. The land must be in Southampton County, VA, and bought on or before January 1, 2007. The Secretary would issue a final written decision within 3 years after the request. If taken into trust, the Trib…
- No change to hunting and water rights: benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would not change the Tribe’s hunting, fishing, trapping, gathering, or water rights. Current rights would stay the same for Tribal citizens.
- Federal recognition and benefits for Cheroenhaka Tribe: mixed, high. If enacted, the Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indian Tribe would be federally recognized. Tribal citizens would be eligible for all federal services for recognized tribes, even without a reservation. Federal Indian laws would apply unless they conflict with this Act. The service area for delivering federa…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-hr-9237: Take Care of America’s Veterans Act
- 119-hr-2102: Major Richard Star Act
- 119-hr-2048: Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act
- 119-hr-979: AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025
- 119-hr-1329: Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-5144 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5144)

## Related
- [119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3151)
- [119-hr-9237: Take Care of America’s Veterans Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9237)
- [119-hr-2102: Major Richard Star Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2102)
- [119-hr-2048: Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2048)
- [119-hr-979: AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-979)
- [119-hr-1329: Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1329)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5144 (as of 2026-09-16).