Rep. Lucas Hosts Congressional Hearing on Osage Bill

HEADLINE: REP. LUCAS HOSTS CONGRESSIONAL HEARING ON OSAGE BILL

BYLINE: States News Service

DATELINE: TULSA, Okla.

BODY:
The office of Rep. Frank Lucas, R-Okla., issued the following press release:

U.S. Third District Rep. Frank Lucas hosted a field hearing in Tulsa today of a U.S. House committee to debate his bill that would allow the Osage tribe to set its membership criteria, while protecting the Osage mineral estate.

"We heard today from both the groups affected by the bill and the government agencies with jurisdiction over the tribes," Lucas said. "They both agree that my legislation will help solve the Osage tribe's membership problem."

The committee heard testimony on a bill authored by Lucas reaffirming the sovereign rights of the Osage tribe to determine its own membership and form of government. The tribe's elected leadership, the Osage Tribal Council, asked Lucas to help them clarify the 1906 federal law that organized the tribe.

Current law limits the membership of the tribe to only individuals who inherit a share of the Osage mineral estate. Currently only Osage who own a headright interest in the Osage mineral estate are able to vote or run for elective office. As a result, many individuals who are of Osage descent are excluded from voting membership in the tribe.

Witnesses included Osage Principal Chief Jim Gray, Osage Councilman Mark Freeman, President of the Osage Shareholders Association R.E. Yarborough, Jessica Rosemary Moore, Cherise Lookout, and Jeanette Hanna, Director of the Eastern Oklahoma Region of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Lucas said he would now work to gain support for his bill in Congress, through legislative cosponsorships, and by moving the legislation through the committee process.

"A vast majority of the interested parties so far have indicated that my bill will help solve the Osage membership problem," Lucas said. "So I'm hopeful the bill will now move forward through the committee system, and eventually to the House floor for passage."

Committee Chairman Richard Pombo(R-CA), as well as Reps. Tom Cole(R-OK), Brad Carson(D-OK), and Dale Kildee(D-MI) were also in attendance. The resources committee has jurisdiction over tribal issues.

"Younger members of the tribe should be encouraged to participate in its activities, yet in some cases the law prevents them from being members of the tribe until their parents die and the children inherit the mineral estate," Lucas said. "I'm confident the tribe can create a better system than the current federal law."

"The Osage Nation is extremely grateful to Congressman Lucas and his efforts on behalf of the Osage," said Principal Chief Jim Gray. "All we are asking for is the same rights every tribe in the U.S. already enjoys, which is the right to determine their membership and form of government."