IB 
Union Calendar No. 286
108TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 2912
[Report No. 108–502] 
To reaffirm the inherent sovereign rights of the Osage Tribe to determine 
its membership and form of government. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 25, 2003
Mr. LUCAS of Oklahoma introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on Resources 
MAY 19, 2004
Additional sponsors: Mr. COLE, Mr. CARSON of Oklahoma, Mr. KILDEE, and 
Mr. SULLIVAN
MAY 19, 2004
Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union 
and ordered to be printed 
A BILL 
To reaffirm the inherent sovereign rights of the Osage Tribe 
to determine its membership and form of government.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. REAFFIRMATION OF CERTAIN RIGHTS OF THE 
OSAGE TRIBE. 
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds as follows: 
(1) The Osage Tribe is a federally recognized 
tribe based in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. 
(2) The Osage Allotment Act of June 28, 1906 
(34 Stat. 539), states that the ‘‘legal membership’’ 
of the Osage Tribe includes the persons on the Jan-
uary 1, 1906 roll and their children, and that each 
‘‘member’’ on that roll is entitled to a headright 
share in the distribution of funds from the Osage 
mineral estate and an allotment of the surface lands 
of the Osage Reservation. 
(3) Today only Osage Indians who have a 
headright share in the mineral estate are ‘‘mem-
bers’’ of the Osage Tribe. 
(4) Adult Osage Indians without a headright in-
terest cannot vote in Osage government elections 
and are not eligible to seek elective office in the 
Osage Tribe as a matter of Federal law. 
(5) A principal goal of Federal Indian policy is 
to promote tribal self-sufficiency and strong tribal 
government. 
(b) REAFFIRMATION OF CERTAIN RIGHTS OF THE 
OSAGE TRIBE.—
(1) MEMBERSHIP.—Congress hereby clarifies 
that the term ‘‘legal membership’’ in section 1 of the 
Act entitled, ‘‘An Act For the division of lands and 
funds of the Osage Indians in Oklahoma Territory, 
and for other purposes’’, approved June 28, 1906 
(34 Stat. 539), means the persons eligible for allot-
ments of Osage Reservation lands and a pro rata 
share of the Osage mineral estate as provided in 
that Act, not membership in the Osage Tribe for all 
purposes. Congress hereby reaffirms the inherent 
sovereign right of the Osage Tribe to determine its 
own membership, provided that the rights of any 
person to Osage mineral estate shares are not dimin-
ished thereby. 
(2) GOVERNMENT.—Notwithstanding section 9 
of the Act entitled, ‘‘An Act For the division of 
lands and funds of the Osage Indians in Oklahoma 
Territory, and for other purposes’’, approved June 
28, 1906 (34 Stat. 539), Congress hereby reaffirms 
the inherent sovereign right of the Osage Tribe to 
determine its own form of government. 
(3) ELECTIONS AND REFERENDA.—At the re-
quest of the Osage Tribe, the Secretary of the Inte-
rior shall assist the Osage Tribe with conducting 
elections and referenda to implement this section.
Union Calendar No. 286
108TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 2912
[Report No. 108–502] 
A BILL 
To reaffirm the inherent sovereign rights of the 
Osage Tribe to determine its membership and 
form of government. 
MAY 19, 2004
Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
State of the Union and ordered to be printed