The Eighth Osage Nation Congress adjourned its 2023 Hun-Kah Session and approved several appropriation bills including a $3 million supplemental funding for the Hominy Senior Housing project, $10,000 appropriation to the Kihekah Steh Powwow Club and $764,000 for Osage Minerals Council attorney costs.
On April 24, Congress considered the following legislative items before adjourning its regular spring session in Pawhuska:
- ONCA 23-34 (sponsored by Congressman Otto Hamilton) is “An Act to authorize and appropriate $3 million to the Executive Branch for the Senior Housing Complex construction project in Hominy, Oklahoma.” During the session, Executive Branch officials told Congress the inflation situation caused construction costs to increase, so more funding would be needed.
- ONCA 23-25 (sponsored by Congresswoman Jodie Revard) is “An Act to amend ONCA 22-95 to provide a supplemental appropriation in the amount of $10,000) for the Kihekah Steh Club. According to the bill, the Cultural Donations section of the Nation’s 2023 fiscal year budget is revised to include the $10,000 donation to the Kihekah-Steh Club, which plans and holds the annual powwow event in July north of Skiatook.
- ONCA 23-32 (sponsored by Congresswoman and Second Speaker Pam Shaw) is “An Act to authorize and appropriate $10,000 to the City of Fairfax for the purchase of an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant forward walking pool ladder and pool safety equipment.”
- ONCA 23-56 (sponsored by Congresswoman Paula Stabler) is “An Act to amend ONCA 22-95 to provide appropriation modifications and supplemental appropriations to the Executive Branch in the amount of $431,456.” According to the bill, entities and endeavors listed in the bill include the Nation’s Census Project in the works, Daposka Ahnkodapi (the Nation’s school), Department of Natural Resources Services – Harvest Land, Election Office, Financial Assistance Department, Gaming Commission, Historic Preservation Office, Tax Commission, Treasury Department and the Wah-Zha-Zhi Youth Council.
- ONCA 23-58 (sponsored by Congressman Scott BigHorse) is “ONCA 23-58, An Act to provide an appropriation to the Osage Minerals Council for fiscal year 2023 in the amount of $764,305.” BigHorse said the funding will go toward attorney fees for the OMC and the amount is reduced from an earlier request of $1.2 million as Congress considered other appropriation bills during the session. ONCA 23-58 passed with 10 “yes” votes, one abstention from Keene and one absence that day from Congressman Eli Potts.
All other bills passed on April 24 passed with 11 unanimous votes before the passed legislation was sent to Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear’s office for consideration of being signed into law.
Downloadable copies of filed legislative bills and resolutions, as well as Congressional meeting notices and agendas are posted online to the Legislative Branch website at: https://www.osagenation-nsn.gov/who-we-are/legislative-branch
