Tribal leaders tell committee that replacing P.O. box in statute would cut off access to federal programs

Several witnesses urged the committee to preserve the mailing address currently codified for the Georgia tribe of Eastern Cherokee and to decline any involuntary address substitution. "We're not asking it to change our mailing address—we want to leave that exactly like it is," Richard Botts told members, and he added that changing the address "is termination" because it would cut the tribe off from USDA programs, health‑care grants and other federal relationships.

Wallace, who identified himself as a member of the tribe's council, said the group has extensive historical documentation and a registered tribal insignia and trademark filings. He told the panel that a for‑profit corporation—identified in testimony as GTEC Federal Services Company—had attempted to claim an address in 2021 and that the tribe had records it would make available to the committee. Witnesses emphasized they would support name changes (to Chickamauga Nation was offered as an option) so long as the existing P.O. Box 1993 remained the codified address.

These claims were disputed in part by council representatives, who said the post office and historical records complicate the narrative and that the council's role is advisory. The committee tabled HB43 to allow staff and the council to verify postal control and to assemble court and sworn records for the panel's review.