The Eighth Osage Nation Congress will convene for its eighth special session starting Oct. 31 at 10 a.m. in Pawhuska.
Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear issued an executive proclamation calling for the special session on Oct. 16. The 12-member Legislative Branch will meet to consider the following subjects listed on the proclamation:
- Appropriations for the orphaned well program.
- Non-tribal appropriations, which are usually grant awards for specific entities and endeavors.
- Tribal appropriations, which are requests for tribal dollars coming from the Nation’s revenue sources including gaming, Tax Commission and program revenue.
- American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) appropriations, which pertain to the federal COVID-19 relief funding awarded to the Nation.
- Resolution for matching grant requirements.
- Amendment to bill ONCA 23-34, which is “an Act to authorize and appropriate $3,000,000 to the Executive Branch for the Senior Housing Complex construction project in Hominy.” The Congress passed the bill during the 2023 Hun-Kah Session appropriating $1 million from the retained revenue fund and $2 million from the general treasury toward the housing complex construction costs.
- Si-Si-A-Pe-Txa (the Nation’s Health Services) approval of a limited waiver of sovereign immunity in favor of Bank of Oklahoma.
- Si-Si-A-Pe-Txa approval of Treasury agreement for Health 401K account and a limited waiver of sovereign immunity for the 401K account.
During the special session, Congress members may also meet in scheduled Congressional select or standing committee meetings to initially consider legislation or other items presented. The special session and any scheduled Congressional Committee meetings will be held in the ON Legislative Chambers in Pawhuska.
Special sessions may last up to 10 days and may be extended up to three additional days at two-thirds of Congress members’ written request. Otherwise, Congress members can motion and vote to adjourn a special session once all legislative business is deemed complete.
For more Congressional information on sessions, committees and to view filed legislative bills/ resolutions, visit the Legislative Branch website at: https://www.osagenation-nsn.gov/who-we-are/legislative-branch
