Free Notice (Other) - District Court of Federal Claims - federal

Case 1:99-cv-00550-ECH

Document 309-46

Filed 06/30/2008

Page 1 of 10

95T~ .C0~GRESS }_--~- o~',-" HOUSE 0F REPRESENTATIVES.. J, ~,,~"o~--~.,~RErORT

.

¯

. ¯ - . ..

. .

AMENDING (~ERTAIN LAWS RELATING TO THE OSAGE TRIBE OF OKLAHOMA, AND FOR. OTHER PURPOSES
¯ j.

A~ousT 9,. _t978.--~mmit~dtx~ flie ~mmittceof the Whole Ho~e on the -: -' State of the Union andordered to be printed

¯ Mr!-Ub.aLI,, frown tho Oomna!it~- on Interior and Insular.Affairs, " .... submitted the following

[To accompanyH~R~ 11894] .. " " [Including the cost estimate of. the Congressional Budget Office]

¯ The Commit on

.letted the.biU (tLR. l1894)to.amend certainIaws relating to-the Osa~.:Tn~ Of Oklahoma, and for:other purposes, having considered " .the same, report favorably thereon .with amendments and redommend i " that the bi!laS amended do pass...-.~ : " ~ i" ..Theamendments am asfollows: .... . Pa~ 3, following line 5; insert..a new subsectionas follows: - 24, 1938 (52 Stat. 11034,~ 1036). is amended by striking the

nd..n r.la:aai , to: whom-w

.. (c):The ~fourth paragraph of section 3 of the Act of June

¯ phrase 'January 1, 1984'. and inserting, in lieu thereof, the . -..""

. ,phrase 'January 1, 1984 and thereafter until otherwise pro¯ Page 4~ :beginning on line 3, s#,rike Out all ofSection 4 and renumberthe succeedingsectmn.~, a:ceordkLgly. " - - . , Page 9, line 10, Strike out "section 8, and insert .in lieu thereof " " ."section 77. .- " -- ' _Page 10,1iue 4, following the word "person" insert the. word "not". Page 11, line 10, strike out "~etion 9(b)" and .insert inlieu thereof "section 8(b)". . .... Page 11, line 17, following the. word. ,highest'! insert the word ¯ " "" ". ",'legitmaate".

. vided by:O0ngress'. " "

l~age I!; line 24, strikeout "section 8" and insert in lieu thereof
¯ "SeCtlOn 7".

PURPOSE
The purpose of H.R. 11894, introduced by Mr. Risenhoover, is !o amend and supplement various laws relating to the Osage Indians of Oklahom-a~ -

Case 1:99-cv-00550-ECH
¯ - "~ ~: ". . . ~ . ." . _ ¯. :

Document 309-46
.- . "....-- .

Filed 06/30/2008
.... :

Page 2 of 10

¯ " :"

¯

i.

"

":

¯ .

-.

BAC~OROUND~ . -

southem;IllTmois mad Indiana..When first.c.ontac¢~l by_ whigo oxolorers, -. " - theO Sago. Were located.in Missouri .and n0rthern~.Arkam~..Through a series bf-treaties.with- the United States; beginning in 1808 andending- : :~ :".1870, the Osage. gradually. e~kled, these: l.,mds and- were remove~ Westward-:-. :. -..... :~-.. " " " -- " ---": " " " - " -~: -~: -.~ / By theact .of JUly 1:5,"1870~ a r esg rvation was"ereated re i, {he 0gage in: northeastern Oklahomm"The reservatioli.ontfi~ned -1,470;934 ;acres. and js¯'no.w iontermi~gus ~fith Osage county, 0kla: '- . i " ¯ " i. In 1-887.,.Congress passed the~General-Allotment Act of FebruarySi . ¯ - 1887 (24 Star.:388) ~vhich-p~dedthat the~variousi.Iudianre~erva- ¯ . tions:would be allotted,--in ~divid~ial .tracts, .~6 the iuembers of.the " '- -- :. tribel and any.rggm~'!/m~swould bed6claredlsurplus~dsgld to. :-~ . i ."whit~ settlers..The Osage :stLrongly rehis ted-~he allo.tment of- their: " " ": .- reservation and the 18..87 act. was made inapplicable to"them. ~ " " .- :. " " Hosvever, :fin.-.1906,. .Cgngress. passed th.0- O~ge.i _~t. o~meng. ~ct.:0f.. i ¯ : - . June28,- 19~6.04 Star. 539).:~ver s~rong.p~bte~s.fr6m" the~Oshg~: ;: " " This" actthe.allotment of 480 acres to each men~ber.:of . cemeteries, ietce.t~a, the rem~ lands were to. be:divided :equall~r among ' of the Interior . Was authqi4zed to .msUo .cert.ificates:of~.compet.ency tO adul~-:lndizms, authurizing them to ..convey:their ¯lands, except¯ that 160.-acres:- of " '-h0mestead:lands were to .remain-i~alienablo-and:ndntaxable .for 25 .. . :years .or:d ."uring the life.of the.:allott.ee.. OiI", gas,. coal, an~l o.ther:min~ml~ : . -: " ~ ere t.o: be ~ese~ved for/the tribe for 25.years, .were to,be sUb ject~ to .1~ by~ th~itribal cotmcfl, with. the approval-of: the.Secr6t~:,ii~id myalti~.w.ere:tolm'paid'~) th~ tribe, l~!Iineral~, th.'en v¢e~e to becometho " :prbpe'~y of-the iddi~dUal:.all6ttees. All0tted lands: .@ere to be ~ubjiect.~) lease for farming and g~mzing..purpos, es, ~.~th appro.val by-the. .:: Secretary. -. . ..-.... - . " _ .: ...: . " .. - .:. . " .Funds 6f.~theOsage. Tribe-Were,to be.heldin(~ru~t for.25 years and then distn%.uted- to th.e,initividuM, members.' except that (1)moneys ' received from:sale of !and in .Kansas :~rud any moneys fo.und "due on . : claimsagainst the United:States were to be placed;to the.credlt0f the. : . .~ individual membersof the -tribe, Wereto dravcinterest..a~pro~ded by . ~( ¯ law, and. the inter~t was to:b.e paidquartefly to meml)ers or, to parents " -! . orguardiitfigm'the caseo.fininors, a~d (2) - royalties from mineralh,~es . :.: 'and moneys.~:e~ived from sale of town lots or from grazing landswere ¯ : .:.i t~bbe placed in. the Trehstiry to-the credit of the:individual m-embem.0f -.. ':-.the tmbe and distributed at: the same time as intereston trust'ftinds. - --:~" P.r0visi0n: ~as madefor .elec~ibn of "the:tribal officers and cdunc~l.- ' . i~ :: " The1906. iict constitutes the basic :Federal law reguliifing th~propr ¯ : erty. andsaffairs., including.tribal g o-~ernment, of the Osage Iffditms, :.and the descent and disti4bu~gion of interests in individual trust.lands . and-property andin tribal proper.ty, This ae~ has been amended .imd: . supplemented by several subsequent statutes, particularlywithrespec.t ~ to extending the life'of.the !Osage Tribal Council, and.in extending ¯ the-tribal mineral reservation, and the trust status of the individual -allotments.
:.'"

Th OLd_. indi 0Swere t a o ly and

m

.-. ¯

EXPLANATION

""

AS reported by the committee,H.R. 1.1894 further amends¯ or sup- ; p!ements the !906 act and.subsequent acts in several.respects.: :" " .]

..

".

=

-..-.,

Case 1:99-cv-00550-ECH

Document 309-46

Filed 06/30/2008

Page 3 of 10

..

¯.

. ":.. .

/' .

".

. Section 9.of the 1960-act, as amended; establishes tlde0skgeTi4bal '. :-:. Council and provides that such ¯council shall c~mtinuein!fnll force and" " effect .until January i,. 1984. As ~)f ):pril 22, 1977, the: Osa~.e:Tribe Consisted of -9;205 persons of Osage blood who -are caxrieff-.on -t~e '. " " - AgencY.census records. Of these 9,205 ~dividuals,. an-estimkted-7,022 .. have:no-interest- in the. tribal mineral, estate. (known"as.Ya headright ..: .: interest) and, ¯under. departmental regulations, have¯ no Vote.in. tribal~ : " elections: and no right to h01d elective., office, .in. the OSa~gd..TfiIbal - . .L: Coimcil. 0sage headright interests may be passed by inh'eritahc~efrom - " " : .:: " one.0sage .to an0ther.The inheritance process hasresulted-insome:: . - . :: ¯ .persons-..accumuiatifig several headrig.h~Ls' interests;--0"tli6rs.ad~ldiiJn~ -.:- -".: .: ;:: . only- a fractionMinterest; and.still :others of substar/tial Osage-blood " " : . - ~; .not acquiring any headright -interest all:at..In the: last .f$w--ye/d~,:g -. ¯ ¯ : group of persons of Osage blood have filed suit:agaihst the D~i)hrtindfit - - . " : " i)f the Interi0r.alleging that the tribaI-councilhas~tu~D;'a~at~oi-lt~j " " " " " i; " ::!. ~ g~n'6rM : only-for management Of-the:0shge ~ainerhl--estate-anff:iJi)t'fdi government of the Osage tribe. Section iof I~LR. 1.I894 ~iifld'ex~'ehd - " " - ¯ for- the existence Of the: tribal"-"cbuncil, indefinitely-imd:p~o-vi~!e~! for - . " ...... filling:of:the various6ffie;es--in--the::evenb of a commo~idis~~L "The -.. ¯ committee.d0es not-intend by"enactment Of. this sectAbn-" t0" kffect in : anyway the question involved in the.laws~/itnoted abd4e-(Lo~]a~ietdl. v. Audr~'et-al:, Cir. No. 77-165-C, N.D._Oldahoma): .: " :~: : : :i : : . .-Existing :l~w with resp:ect, to the :Osa~ge pr6vides thaCt]~'~6ral. " estate underlying the Osage reservation shall bereser~.ed to--th0: ti-i}Je " ¯ .: Until April 8; 1983 or-until otherwise:~ovided by Congress , :that "the pr.oi~erty 0ftheindividual Osage shall c0fi~inue-:/~ be h~Id=Ld ~t until January l, 1984, unless otherwise. provided by C6:n:~'~sf:~nl] " ¯ "¯". "that-the homestead allotment of individual (~. age shMlbeekemI~'$ f~6m t-axation U.ntil;January:.l, 1.984.-- :: . . .: :-. ". : :"..-!" - =.:-Section 2 of H.R: 11894;. as-amended, provides, tha~ the ifiii~ral estate, shall, b~ reserved to. the. Osage tribe in perpetuity.-,-that:~he trustperiOd on Osage, property, shall:-be"continued imtil :J~iaitiklT: 1, 1984, and thereafteruntil Otherwise provided by"C6hgress,kr/d"i)aat the homestead tax. exer//ption shall con~tinuo until .Jafifi~ 1~"19M, ~.dthereafter until¯otherwise provided :by Congress. :.: '" ::"~" : " Underexi.stingOsage law, the S~cretaryof:tho Interior=i~iequi~d to issue a certificate of competency to an Osage.Indian"0f ]es~ tlJa~a one-half degree of Indian blood u j~on the "attammetitof:age.21." Th~ effect.of the-issuance of such certificate is't6-remov~ the ffu~ status 0f the property held by-.the Indian wifimut.his ~msent. .Sectioh:-3~0f H.R: 11894 repeals the 1948 act requiring the issuanceof.such cergifi: .. ca .tes.; authorizes an Osage Indian having"a certificate ofcompetency to i~ppl~ tothe Secretary Ior the rovoeiation of ~uch certifiCat6,.i/~--d would eliminate various blood degree dis|,inetions in-other laws-relating to descent .and distribution and tax exemptions. No other"in'be of Indians is governed by Federal law making blood distinctiohs between men,bets .with respect to property ownership and. this Section wc, nld :' eliminate this differentiation for the Osage. . . : The act:of June 24, 1938 (52 Stat. 1034) providedthat leases'0f Osage lands for gas purposes would contMn prov~si0n, for conservationof gas ~hrough maximum recovery: Since the p a~,~ago of that act, a number of States- have recognized the need for !'unitization of working, and royalty interests to provide for the greatest Ultimiite recovery, of oil and .gas. The need for conservation has been construed by the c0urts -. .
.. '.. .

Case..1:99-cv-00550-ECH .- .. : . . .
.- . ¯ "..~- .

Document 309-46

Filed 06/30/2008

Page 4 of 10

¯ ¯ ..

/ :.

¯4-

¯¯ " "

¯

¯

as sufficient-to permit.the StatUes to enforce unitization of leasehold :' - " interestsfroin dommon s0ur~s of supply~ ~tion 4 of-the .bill"as. re.~ " " i p0rted,.would aUth0rize:the SeCretary of. the Intexi'or.to publish and / ~ '! - " - enforce appr'0pri'at~/-egulations for-conser~.ation of oil andgas pro- -. " ¯ duction-from-{,he Osage reser~ation..through:Unitiza.ti0n~-i . . -.~ . =:!i! ¯ " Under exlsting.law- (section 8of the .act of- April- 18, 1912, 37-Stat.. " ~. ~-. 86,-88.), aft adult.membe.r of the:O.sago .tribe .etm ¯ .d~p0_so .of-.his.tru~ :-~! ¯ . " -..propertyby the ex0cutmn of ~- _w~a.l in. ac~rdance with..the.la.ws ~.th.0 - :-. ¯ " . ~tatd: of Oklahom~,"Such. a- will is a.dmit~cd toproba~e m .me ~tsto .;i¯ ..cou~.~ prbvided ,t h .as been ap.proved hero_re or.~r.thod~gh 0f the_ :- i: - : testator. Se~tion- .5 (a) .of:the bill-amends that,,law ~o maKe:clear,Uiag . Os~g~. '18 years andolder may.dis, pose of such:prop0~y bywill and . to:.str~a:mlfne the probate preceding :before the :D0pargment 0f thee : -Interior.-aaid-the Oklahoma district courts to diminate, protracted. : -iitig~fion.0n suCh.probates: -.= ~ - -. _ i.-, .- " . " . : . -.~-..::.i ¯" . -. " Section-3.of .the act of Apr~ 18, !912 .(37-StaL~86) .establishes the -.":-~. - - legal" procedure-f0r-the-proba~.,ofdecease-d an"d o rl?.haned min0r, g,_ :, ¯ ¯ . : insane or.ether incompe~nt: al][ottees of :the ~e.Tribo. Probate.of - .................... ~such_estates:is-.-pro~ded ~for re-:the: county.~dou:r:ts-0f--Qklal~*._ a:- Sectmn~ 5(I)) of ~.he bill: .amends. that law.to changc-th0 woods..county, court. : -¯ to "district:court~,;to specifically state:that the laws Of. the state of ' +.- - - -Oklahoma ave appli~ble to ~I()~o:ln&.answhether they am:aUo.gted ¯ or UnaUotted; and to pro~ide~that~inhent.an60: of aOs..~O hea~dr~" .hit " ¯ or mineral in,rest ~ subject tothe prov~smns.of section:7: of this bill. ' ' ~-Secti0n 7- o~~.th0 got of. ~February. 2.7,_ ~925, .(45 Star.. 1008), ~$ ¯-~-~ " amended,'-restricts: the inheriLgnceof.interes.tsin the tnist-estate-of, a:n:. '. :. OSagoIndian of one:half or more India~ blood of-the.Osage tribe to : .:~ - heim of--indian blood. SeCtien.5(c) amends.this-law.: .to-permit parents: " :.:. . . andleg.a~y adoptod children:of non-Indian blookl.to inherit from Osage -:.'::: .~.Indians andre prevent .spouses of non-lfidian:- blood from inheriting .... from Obage Indmns, regardless, of their quantum 0f.:Indian .blood. -.':'. " -Section 5(d):of the-biU provicles-that, notwiths.tand'mg the pr0vi- -.~ sions of subsection (a), (b),and (),:disp0sitions of-Osage-.he~ht: :.:~ ¯ interests ShaRbe subject totheprovisions of section 7. of .this~.-~= 3~ .. ::: . i " -¯Undercurrent laws; an Osag0 lndian can:.only~disp0so of-~h~ad:.~([¯ 'i ¯ fight .or mineral inter~t by. ~tegtamentary .mstru~aent :Whieh~iS';a~f~'- :--= ~ proved subsoqUcnt.t0his de,xth by the: "Secretary ?[the Interior. Th~s ¯ . ~ i~ ¯ iJrocedure has resulted in many. contests Ofan -a~rativo nature ¯ lollowed-by confi/sts-in, probate courts of .the,-State of Oklahoma, and :-- many disputes, of..heirship have a "rg~en"'m_: mtes_ta._to situations:: Thee .. tn"~o requested authority= to permit members of.the Osage tribe to " / " execute-testamentary instruments in the natureoI a trus...t W hichwo~d : " provide, the settler with an-opportunity pn_'or to-his death- to. fir~y~. :.;~ - ¯ establish the-disRosition that-would be¯made of.his property, Section if-/:"~i " -. =. pro'vldes this auth~.rity.. " . .: Section 7 of the billis intended to provide a means of. keeping .this. -:i~ Osage..headfight or:mineral inb~rest inOsage.Indian ownership. There . is nosimiiarprovision inex~stinglaw with.regard to th_e-Osages. The /: section would prohibit a person of non-Osage Indiah blood from.ri,- -~: ceiving more than a life estate:in a Osage headright interest owned by .!. an Osage Indian~ whether such interest is :recieved..by will;" inter : vires, trust, or Oklahoma .lw~ of intestate, suecessmn. Upon the. : .: .death of such non-Osage, recipient, the Osage headright would vest in'- -i~ the remaindermen of Osage Indianbl00d, or if.the deceased Osage died ~.[ intestate, theOsage headright would vestin his hoim of Osage Indiim: "

- ..: :.

...~, "

Case 1:99-cv-00550-ECH

Document 309-46

Filed 06/30/2008

Page 5 of 10

..

..

.

¯< ¯

. ¯-... . -..

5¯"

.¯ .

.- ..

blood pursuant to. the Oklahoma-law. ofintestat~ Succession.IfJthere = ¯ -. be n9 such .remaindermen :of Osage Jndian bbod or .heirs 0fOsage -. :! ¯ -Indian. blood, such Os/~ge headright ~v~uldvest :,_n the OSage tn~be and-.. - -~ the tribe Would be requireit to pay-the, esta~ of such non~ereci- , -".- " ~:. pient-themarket value of suchheadrightin~rest~ .: . :. ". :. - " . .:i~i~ - . The act Of April 12, ¯1924 (43 Star. 94), authorizes the sale-of Osage " - " " ..~: headri~ht or- mineral interes~ by individuals Who are not of Indiaff- " " . . ";:~ bio~. ;~..ut prohibits the sale (if Osage. headright0r mineral ~interesl.s . -.... :~:: i by an$ person of lndian, blo~l, except in cei~ain cases where Federal :/ : ::) :" super~, ~smn of tr~biil groups: has-been terminated. Sedtion.8(a)-of-t,he bill ~.ould permit the .purchade, by-:the .Osage Tribe of headfight:or ~/! " " miherMin~restsinheritedbyordevised.tonon-Indians and would help " :.:.!~ to resolve .the .problems :or..eared-by -fr.actionation-Of interests .ifi such ¯ hi~adrights.- . : : ."-.-. " . " . .: : Sectmn 8 (b). w0uld authorize the Osage Tribe to use tribal mineral. ¯ . income for the purpose Of purchasing:head-right or miner~ interestsi!! ......... i-as-pro-.~ded ia.s~cUon 7-and 8(a).of_thL¢..bilL.._. :._ :.::.i_.: .... : . , ..... ..... Section .9 of the bill would authorize the administrative transfer i:::i .of a deceased O~age Indian's headrighti and.other assets for-:which-the /: .... 'Secretary has a_trust responsibility to the heirs .or legate~,s .o.f.tho . decedent in. those cases where the .a~ets are so.s~Ml (less-than an " ¯ aggregate of $10,000 perdecedent) that it is uneconomical to employ . -an attorney to probate:or administer such interests. The provisions of:.:/ ~:~ " the section:would apply in those-cases where:(i) no court of c6m- .. -petent jurisdiction, has .undertaken the probate of the: deceased~s - " esta~, and (2). a request for. administrative, determination, has been ' :~ ¯ made .to:the .Secretary by one Orm:o~'e Of the heirs oi--legatees. _. i~
S~cTION B~ ~CTIoN-ANAL~SIS ..
- : ¯¯

¯~

SECTION I

¯ Section .1. further amends section .9 of the act. of June 28~. 1906 (34 Stat. 539, 535); relating to the establishment of theOsage Tribal Council~ by providing for a .method of: selecting c0fincil metal)era, in the event of a common disaster andby extendingthe life of the council ' until otherwise provided.by. Congress,
SECTION 2

ii~
~

Subsection (a) amends the act of June.241 1938 (52 St;at. 1034,1035) by providing that the mineral estate reserved, to the Osage tribe by the t906 act for a term of :years will vest in.the tribe m " "" ¯ perpetuity. . - Subsection ' (b) amends the 1938. act by providing that the. trust status of allotted Osage lands will be extendedunti! otherwise provided " by act-of Congress. . " .. " " ¯ Subsection (c) amends the 1938 act by extending the. tax exemption on Osage Indian homestead allotments until otherwise determined by Congress.
S~-CTI ON :3

.-: .-

.

Subsection (a) repeals a 1948 act-providing for.mandatory issuance of certificates of competency to Osages of less than. one-half degree of Osage blood.

Case 1:99-cv-00550-ECH

Document 309-46

Filed 06/30/2008

Page 6 of 10

:" f.-i
....

. -.
-. ....

....

. ...~,.,,.. ¯ ~ ..... _-. .... ,....-_. :~ .¯:. - ....
.. - -. -..

, ::
.. -

I
.

- /.".Subsection (b):providbs that any OsagoiIndian. who has receiveda- .= -Certificate of oml~toncy. under¢ertain-.acts of.COngrcssmay.potition ~ ~"":i! " to-have suchcertiti~to revokbd-.by, the Secretaryof the.In,riot, but . ./j - - " that=such revocati0n'will :n6~. ~ffect.--valid _exist'rag rights-or. reimpoi;e ;;:! . - . any restriction.againSt Slienati~n of.land. . : . - . :. -: _ " :: ~ " " /.-7~ . _ -Subsection (c)-amend:s a .1925, !929, and1938ac~of Congross relab . i-~ '.. ing.-to Osag0"lndians.. bjr eliminating :!afig'qago which-distinguishes--"i ii - -- -. between ~e,Indian~ ofone-half or less andono-half Or more dogreo " .::~ . .-: . . -.~ . ~ .. '~i ,. ' of OsageIiidtanblobd. " - ..:i .-: .:i.- ..- . : : :". . - ~i~oN:4 . . " . " . . -, ::,i '.- " Section 4 pr0Yides : for - the" nnitizafion -of o'fl.leasoS on the,Osage . " reservation f0r proposes of m~fimizing oil andg~.production: .".. ;-.' " . . ...i .... . " .-SE~o~- ." . . . " -" .- "....:-,

...... -SuSsecti0n. (a) -reduces. from 2i. to- 1:8-y_ears the .

a non- " "

at-which an ......

Indmn. ¯ " " ::. ; ' ..... . " . . Subsection (b)..ptovi~l~s .for :the hypothecation~ of.-Osage tribal." : income to acquire Osage hoadriglit.intorest;- - - : -:. " - .......
¯. ;- . ,.

¯

-.

"

.

..

¯

.s~no~9. . . ..

""

/ . .-..

.¯

....

determine-heirs, or. l~a t~:s ofOsage ~tate~ havoc fissets :under tl~e .:; ]u "risdiction of. the. D.epartmen~.of. the Interior which do -not, exce~,d . :. an aggTegate value-of $!O,OOO.- i " " " " - ."~ " .
/

cOMMITTEE-.AMEN-DMEN~rg .

"

-. Aside from .technical and. conformfing amendments, the committee adopted t.w,o subst.aatiVe amendments to the bill asintrodUced.... ,). A .new subsection (c):was addedto seofion 2. The::homesfi~ad '-;=:: ¯ allotments-.ofOsago.:lndians not having, certifica.tes.of~competency. " ':.." are. exemptfrom.ta~xation-untiil-Januar~. I~1984. The new.subsection . would continue that exemption, until : -C~ngress: pasitlvely deter: mines otherwise. - " =..- " : _ " .. . .-"- "-:- : . " All of section 4 Of the bill, as introdu~d, was stricken. -The so-called .-:ili headright council of the Osage .Tribe,i the. lifeof which.is extended .=.-~ by.section.!. of the bill was .created by the 1906 act-spocificahy. :to . administer the subsurface"es~ate: Of the tribe:"In recent yeairS,;..-tlie ouiacil h~-begun to: administer other-funds, -particularly: Federal funds m~de available tdlndian tribes, for-all Under. jurisdiction of the. .-)::~ ¯ Department of the Interior. In additiOn,-it makes, terra'm chang .es in connection ~h departmental hearings On .Osage wills. which would ~ be. beneficial to Osage estates.. -: . '" -...': Subsection (b) ;merely clariJfies the ¯wording of section-3. Of" the- act of April18, 1912 (37 Stat. 86). " " ¯ i:i ~ Subsection (c) -amends .a. 1925 act of C0n~ress to .permig. Indi~in spouses, fion-l.ndian ~parents, and adopted non-Indian children" to .... inherit from Indians regard|e, ss of,the, decedents degree of Osage . :i.!. Indian blood. -.:: " ¯ .... t - . . -. ¯ . Subsection (d) provides. that, notwithstanding the .pi:oyisions .of "-~ subsection (a), (d), and (c), ' disposition of Osage headnght interests "¯¯| " are subject to the provisions of section 7 of the bill.

Case 1:99-cv-00550-ECH

Document 309-46

Filed 06/30/2008

Page 7 of 10

. ¯. :. .. .

..

¯ .. :-. ..

:- . ".

. .. . .. - . -. .

. ¯.

:

BECKON 6 :

"

Subsection (a) ~.p¢~rn~tsI an. Osage. lnRian of 18 .years ell. ago or Over :.: to establish an.inter vires, trust of his assets under the jurisdiction of :... theDepartmentof tin9 InteriOr. ¯ -: - " - ~. " - .~. i: . : : " -" '. Subsedti0n:(b.). maintains the existing rds~nction againsti, alienation,... .. ¯ on SuclYassdtsand taX.exemptions. : - : ." : - " - . " .. . " -. - : .- .--. /.: " S~c'rIONV .-- '. " " ." ; ..... i / :. :..

SeCtion 7 pr0hibi~s-a l~rson no.t of 0sago blood from rec.elvmg more- ; than a: life estate .in an-0sago, headright in,rest owned by an OSage " Indian." '".. - " . ." :.¯ :".: . - "".-"
¯ - --- .: " ". "S~I'IONS. -: " " " " "

SubseCtiOn-. (a) : ~:._ the i.Trib~. .~! .... - pur~hase:.an -~e ]ae-~ht st-belt 'Osage rs:. " The power of the council: to de, so has: bee called into.question by" litigation filed by-Osage indians who. are not.headright :holders and,, : .. therefor.e,-not:entitled, to participate in the election of-the council.. .Thelitigati0n is entitled Logart. et, al.v,AndruS et al:;~G~f v, No. 77-165C.~. N,D. Okla. In addition, the whol~ governmental structure of-the, Os~g_. 0 .:lndiafi:s isLnn-rently in conflict.and, the 'Burean of India-hi. " Affairs is "conducting a poll of all(Os .~eIndians to determine the wishe~ -: -i of the peop!e on :that"subject. Striking:section 4:of the intrbduce(t[ :: bill has:the"6~ectof maintaining the status quo as far. as the lit'gation -~s-concerned. tt is the. intent of the com~b~o .that thisbill not .: ..affect, in: any:.~ray,, the questions- being ( litigated ' in the Loga/~. case,, " -. .., " C0ST AND BUDOm~ ACT COmPLIANcE-. . The .bill represents no cost to the;.Federa] Government .directly,, -but ~he committee estimates tlhst it could-: result in a net revenue, loss of approximately. $350,000 annually. The cost-estimate, prepared[ " ¯ by the 06ngressiona!Bu:dg~t Otfice follow):. . ': .~

..

.. "

CONGR~S~ONX~ ]~.o~r"0~mc~, .
-U.S. C(JNGRESS .

..'
-." ¯ ." " ':::

" ": - Washingfcn, D.C., July I1, 1978. "" " " :--. H0n. MORRIS K. UDALI,, Chairman, Vommittee on Interior and. In,ivlar A~airs,-U.S. HO'~e o.] ¯ . Representatives,.T_~mgworth House O ffwd Building, Washinghm, D:~..- .... ¯ DEAR MR. CHAIRMANI Pursuant to section403 of- the Congressional ¯ ~Budge~ -Act of 1974, the..Congressional Budget~ Offi~o .has-reviewed H.R..11894~ tt bill to amend :certain laws:relating to tho-Osage.-Tribe " of Oklahbma and for. other p~oses,,as ordered-reportedby tho .Houso Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs~:May 31,-1978. " ... " Thebill-inclu~ies ~provisionthat would allow, membersof the Osag0 Tribeto gain tax~exempt status for income deri.ved: from headright -and mineral. mterests. - This : exemption . would ~resUlt in an incomo:.tax revenue loss of approximately $350}000-annually if alleligible members of the tribe apply. Revenuelosses from estate aiid inheritance tax! exemptions cannbt be estimated on the basis-of available.inf0rmati0n, but are not expected to.be substantial. Noother significant costs to the, Government are expected to res~flt from enactment 01 this.bill.

,::

/;i

Case 1:99-cv-00550-ECH

Document 309-46

Filed 06/30/2008

Page 8 of 10

-':- =:q :...*":;r-- ~-- -~ "-":-i." .:::-~.<:'-~":"'.'-4=!~'~:=- ,~¯~:'?::.,'.~"-:~ .=~ --~-=:~-~-:.: .".~C:.':.'.--'.:~>.:-:,'=::--~. ~:'~" ~'" -.~. "...

"_~." " .- .:

" --." .:. . .

8 " ' -":- :.. - -.":.."- --

.~.;!!~

¯ : " "ShoUld:th ¢0 t 0 so
_.
-.

" " L- :--- .-. :- - : .~: : .... - further details on this estimate. '' 8incerelyi-. " .. : '.: ," " ' -- ':7 '--" " .4 " " ... . " --. R0~.RT:":~. L~.IN~. " ¯ " : .... "¯ -: -. (For Ali~ M: Rivlin,Director)-. -... - . ... . .:. ~ . .... " .. _'--. ¯ --.- : . .... )'! : . INF/~TmNXmtIMraCr 8TA+~r .. -....~ :- . :
.~ :.- :- ? ~'--5 , -.

Wou d be ple ,d .pro ide

.i: il-

:

. i .... The. -..coinmittee concluded that. enactment, of .the"lfil!: ~v~ have no iinflati0na~y impact. :. . . --. : .
.01~ER'SI,QHT STATEMENT """

.-:..

" .. -..

Other :than n0nnai:oversight i~esp, onsibi]ities exercised:in connection :.:with ther~ 0perations, no specific oversight acti.vities were the::c0mmittee.and, no: recommendations .were Su~ .
C~0MMITTEE-.RZCOMM.BNDArrlON . . -. ...:.

.-

.

The. Committem:on ~Interior :-and ~tsuia~. Affairs, by a VOice vol~!,recommends the bill, as amended; be enac~d. " -. .. " . DEI;ARTMENT REP.. 0RT . .:- :

-"

-The rep0rt.0f:the Department-ofthe Interior, :dated tkpril:lg, i978,. "" follows: " .; .: .U.S.:.D~PARTMENT .OF. THE INTERIOR, ....... '~ ¯ Oi~rrcg Or T~Z. Srr~r'r:~ WasMngton,~D.C.,., April1:9, 1978. .Hen. MORRIS K. UDXl;I,,. sentatives, Wash~h~ouf D~6': .-DEARIV[R: CHAIRMA~lq: This ~:esponds to your requ.cst.f0r the views - of this Department onH.R. 4384-and H:R. 11894, each of which is .. . entitled to amend.the laws relating to-the Osage Tribe in Oklahoma. ~Ve rec0mmei~d enactment of H.R: 4384 andH.R. 11894, if amended aslsuggestedbeloW. " " - " " " " " .. " - - "
H:.tL -li894,: SEcTIoN" 1

-:

':~

Section .1 of .H.R. H894. woUld establish an .organization for the¯ Osage tribal government. " " " . --. " .: - " - :- ~ ¯ : AS ofApril22, 197-7, the Osage Tribe consisted, ofg,205 persons of -Osage bloo- d who-axe carried 0n-.the Agency. census xecords. Of .these 9,205 individuals, an estimated 7.,022:have no headright in: the. Osage mineral estate, and under Depar:tmental. reKuIations (25¯ CFR 73.21).~ have -no vote in tribal elections and no right to hold an ¯elective office :.: of the Osage TribalCorrect. ." . - " " ... - " " :.-~;: . osage headright interests may be passed by-inheritance from:one ~~ " Osage t0 another: The inheritance process has resulted in-some persons accUmulatingSeveral headright interesL% Others acquiring only a frax;fional interest, and still :other persons of.substantial Os.age.blood not. '.!i "-""" acquiring any headright interest at all. -"" In the last few years, the Osage ~Nation .Organization, a group comprised of persons who are one40urth.degree ormore Osage Indian and

Case 1:99-cv-00550-ECH

Document 309-46

Filed 06/30/2008

Page 9 of 10

¯

.

.

,¯

. ~. ¯ . .

-~

,-Interior alleging that :the Osage TribR1-.cg~ncil-:hi~tatutor2z,autlidi~itv: :. :.) . - . . :R "~b~ll- ~f Kll"m~#~. ~:(:.t]~::(~e ,:Ti-ibe . is-~tg :b.~¯ eonductod::by : - : ::. :-.~ " tlib ~~kh d In~?'/t-ff~irs::tki~ d6~e!t .ho.:desire~ of-:.the::~e-" - :- -: ---.-~ -p~i~le- ~rlth .i~giixd-':tb':thi~ ~0i~ia=-_bf goyi~ .rimient.. Rbsultsdf:.the .~ll: : . "> .~! should. be kno;,vn-.:in-..app~bxilniij~ly. 6 .months(:-We:therefore..r~om- . - " .:::~ meiad st~ng-~ut tliJs s0e~i6ii of H.R.:-!1894. anddeferring:considera- " .::-i~. tion of the o~anizatibii of :the Osage:. tribal government--.hntil".tha~ " .--...7: ¯ .-. 131me.- .- " " " " ." , -. - " :-:- i .: : " -"" - : ¯ .. "31~:R~I1894,~SECTION 2 . " -. -.-" =: - :. _ minem-l:estate and the right~ of pr.esent 0whets to that . estate, . We: . .- ~ :~.~ support the extensioh-of :die estat,e and the rights(0f present o~nhrs. ¯ ..... The. _aet_o LJ-une-28,~:-lg~.6-(3~ Stat-~5~ 39)-pro~ided:~for~ t .he-divisibr~:--::~,.=~ .... of 0~.. ge lands, in: severalty~, idlo~,ed :t.l~e:--members of the. trib6:to : ':i ..... select three parcels of !afid:.(oiae oL which -was .robe desi~at0d.:-as their,- "homestend"),. arid iirqvidod- that. '(~e "h0m~te .~'~-!ands : "" ._ would remain 'bnalienRble"--atid~."nontaxable" for a perli>~l of 25 years.. ¯ Successive acta.-of Oodgre~" have. eJttended-..this Feddi:al .~pervision over-Osage land, :i~o//h~cs,"imd other:lJi:0portii~ tmtil January-1. 1984. The purpose of su.b~ctmn~-0J)-o[th'.m seetmh is.to.extond~beyond January 1, 1984; the" Fedel-al trust :res~biisil~flity :for ~he Osage Tribe of/indians of Oklahoma. Siich-a b~at.ion ~fFederal responsibilit-v is not in accord withCurrentFederal lndiah policy aiid is not required "": "":-" " .-. .... in.the ease.of other ~ribes. ......

:

ii"":-'-~;:i " sUbSection (a).wOuld r epe~i-:the-act of Fi~bruary 5, 1948 (62 Stat. 18; 25 U.S:G.\331 nt.)~hieh.n~w provides for :tt~~uance-of a-certifi.. cate of competencyto Certain ,me~bei-s Of the Osage Tribe of Oklahoma and the .reinoval of: all i-esti-lctions agaii~t alienhtlon: frorn all pro" perties exeep.t headright interests:". " . : "'-" " . .--.:,-: : Subsection &b) wo~d: ¯allow any O~e having a: certificate of corn:: "" petency issued under thb..ael~: 0f -FelJi~kry--~, 1948 (62 Star. 18; 25 U:S.C..331 n~) or certain earlier statutes, to.make, application to-the " ".'~::./;;::~:: SecTetary ~tb revoke such 6ertifiea.~e of coi//i~e~tefiejr imdwould require . " :."..~;~ :~ the Sbcreti~r~;to re~oke .sudi"d~irtifieate, :bdt ~ueh: kd~ati,6n ~vouhl:. ::~ ¯ . riot affdct th~legMity "of:kny transactioiis lJteV~UMj/iii&le by re~0U. " ..~ of the:issuaii~b .of:i~ny. stieh certificatepf i~oml~nby..Restribti0iiz ": against alienation:of lands previ0uslv.retlibvbd x~0uhl hot.be reirfiobsetl. . Sitbs6eti0n.(c) Wdultl aineiid se.cti'bn~ .3 sJiii~.of th~ act 6f.Fefiohry. -25:, 1925-(43 St~t. .1[}08 ;. 25 U.S.~:;. 331 nt.) itnd tw~J ~tlibr-S~a~iRes.by. . ~:~ s~/~kmg all refer~Aib.e;a- td.'one;-half degree .iJ~-illl~te Indian blddd. ,- .. -l~epresentativbs of ths-Os~ Tnbe I~heyg :.there shb{i|a:.:l~{ =no is ch~t~O~ ~ Iitittilila"St 1~ t~hki:iSiilJ"hkl~ ~I1~"---' ~'iJf Ih~'dla;:Bl~~ in need ofthe same pro~i~hbh id tlio~e ~lio pos~inore thitiidiae-hhlf d .egree: Federal law makes no such distinction with regard to-any other " - ..... tribe.

<": ':

¸,

Case 1:99-cv-00550-ECH

Document 309-46

Filed 06/30/2008

Page 10 of 10