Ahead of the Osage Nation’s 2023 fiscal year start, the Eighth ON Congress voted to pass the remaining operations budgets for the three-branch government before its Oct. 1 start.
The 12-member Congress also adjourned its 2022 Tzi Sho Session after completing its business on Oct. 3, which was the 24th and final day of the regular session.
Congress passed the following bills and resolutions on Sept. 29 and 30:
ONCA 22-95 (sponsored by Congresswoman Paula Stabler) is an “Act to provide an appropriation to the Executive Branch of the Osage Nation for Fiscal Year 2023 in the amount of $56,491,612.” This appropriation bill contains the FY 2023 budgets for the various departments, programs, entities and boards/ commissions that are mostly funded with tribal dollars and department revenue. The bill passed with 11 “yes” votes and one abstention from Congressional Speaker Alice Goodfox.
ONCA 22-112 (Congresswoman Jodie Revard) is an “Act to authorize and appropriate $500,000 to the Osage Nation Property Improvement Fund for improvements to the Congressional Building for the Legislative Branch.”
ONCA 22-114 (Stabler) is an “Act to amend ONCA 22-94 to provide a supplemental appropriation to the Executive Branch in Non-Tribal funds in the amount of $213,344.”
ONCA 22-115 (Stabler) is an “Act to amend ONCA 22-95 to authorize an appropriation modification and supplemental appropriations to the Executive Branch in Non-Tribal funds in the amount of $243,064 of Non-Tribal funds.”
ONCA 22-116 (Stabler) is an “Act to provide an appropriation to Si-Si A-Pe-Txa (Health Authority Board) for fiscal year 2023 in the amount of $153,490 of Non-Tribal funds.”
ONCR 22-07 (Revard) is a “Resolution Declaring Congressional consent and approval of the Osage Nation Gaming Enterprise Board’s Annual Plan of Operation for fiscal year 2023.” The resolution passed 9-3 with “yes” votes from Congress members John Maker, Eli Potts, Whitney Red Corn, Pam Shaw, Stabler, Joe Tillman, Scott BigHorse, Otto Hamilton and Billy Keene. “No” votes came from Revard, Lemon and Goodfox.
ONCR 22-16 (BigHorse) is a “Resolution to approve the bylaws for The Place to Borrow Money (The Nation’s Community Development Financial Institution) public purpose corporation in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation.”
ONCR 22-17 (Red Corn) is a “Resolution to support the repeal of House Bill 1775 by the Oklahoma Legislature in the next legislative session for the benefit of the school districts of Oklahoma.”
To view filed legislation and the Congressional calendar for upcoming scheduled special sessions and committee meetings, go online to: www.osagenation-nsn.gov/who-we-are/legislative-branch