Rep. Lucas Secures Congressional Hearing in Tulsa on Osage Bill

HEADLINE: REP. LUCAS SECURES CONGRESSIONAL HEARING IN TULSA ON OSAGE BILL

BYLINE: States News Service

DATELINE: WASHINGTON

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

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

"If this bill becomes law and as a result the Osage tribe decides to change its membership requirements, it could affect thousands of Oklahomans," Lucas said. "I wanted to be sure we had an adequate airing of the bill to the people affected right in their own backyard. I'm encouraging anyone interested in this legislation to attend."

The hearing of the House Resources Committee will be March 15 at 10 a.m. at the Post Oak Lodge, 5323 West 31st Street North, Tulsa. Chairman Richard Pombo(R-CA) as well as other members of the Resources Committee will be in attendance. The resources committee has jurisdiction over tribal issues.

The committee will hear 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.

"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 sure the tribe can create a better system than the current federal law."

Lucas' bill also would specifically protect current owners of the mineral estate. Members of the tribe that will be affected by the law will testify at the hearing, as well as a representative of the Osage Shareholders Association and an official from the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

"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."