Benny Polacca

Staff Writer at Osage News

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Eight appointees confirmed by ON Congress for boards and commissions

3 weeks ago | osagenews.org | Benny Polacca

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ON Congress wraps Hun-Kah Session with Elder, Housing and Food Aid measures

3 weeks ago | osagenews.org | Benny Polacca

On the final day of the 2025 Hun-Kah Session, the 9th Osage Nation Congress passed legislation, including establishing a rental assistance program for elders, a forthcoming food assistance program and $750,000 to the Place to Borrow Money for loan capital toward home mortgage loan and rehabilitation loan costs.
Osage Congress to meet for 5th Special Session starting May 16

1 month ago | osagenews.org | Benny Polacca

The 9th Osage Nation Congress will convene for its 5th Special Session starting on Friday, May 16, at 10 a.m. Congress will consider legislation, including postponed items from the recent Hun-Kah Session. Eight of the 12 Congress members signed a May 1 legislative proclamation calling for the special session as allowed by the Osage Constitution, with two-thirds requesting.
ON Congress elects Pam Shaw and Whitney Red Corn as Speaker and Second Speaker

1 month ago | osagenews.org | Benny Polacca

The 9th Osage Nation Congress re-elected Pam Shaw as its Speaker and elected Congresswoman Whitney Red Corn as Second Speaker before adjourning the 2025 Hun-Kah Session. On April 28, the 12 legislators met for the 24th and final day of the spring session and held its annual officer elections and formed new select and standing committees to serve one-year terms, per Congressional rules.
ON Congress honors ancestors with $125K for unmarked graves

1 month ago | osagenews.org | Benny Polacca

The 9th Osage Nation Congress passed bills and resolutions including board law amendments, department budget amendments and a $125,000 appropriation to purchase headstones for unmarked Osage graves.
9th ON Congress forms new Natural Resources Committee

1 month ago | osagenews.org | Benny Polacca

The Osage Nation Congress will now have a fifth Congressional select committee with its purpose to focus on the Nation’s natural resources after the 9th ON Congress voted to amend the Congressional rules during the Hun-Kah Session. For its Legislative Branch business operations and procedures during sessions, the 12-member Congress follows its written rules as authorized by the Osage Constitution.
ON Congress recognizes local church with donation

1 month ago | osagenews.org | Benny Polacca

The Ninth Osage Nation Congress passed appropriation bills, including non-tribal grant funding, as well as a $3,000 donation for the Hominy Friends Church on April 16 during the Hun-Kah Session. The following five bills passed with a 9-0 vote and had three absences that day from Congress members Billy Keene, John Maker and Jodie Revard.
ON Congress tightens oversight on trust land requests

1 month ago | osagenews.org | Benny Polacca

The Ninth Osage Nation Congress approved a bill now requiring a written resolution when requesting land to be placed in federal trust status and a separate bill repealing an obsolete revolving fund for campus building construction.
ON Congress greenlights additional funding for Fairfax Visitors Center

1 month ago | osagenews.org | Benny Polacca

The Ninth Osage Nation Congress approved three legislative items dealing with grant funding matches and to cover costs toward the Fairfax Visitors Center in the works.
ON Congress approves $500K boost to Health Benefit fund

1 month ago | osagenews.org | Benny Polacca

To keep up with increased constituent Health Benefit usage for specific medications, the Ninth Osage Nation Congress approved an additional $500,000 appropriation during the 2025 Hun-Kah Session. On April 9, Congress approved bill ONCA 25-50 (Revard), which is “An Act to authorize and appropriate $500,000 to the Osage Nation Health Benefit Fund.” According to the bill, the funding will come from the Nation’s Retained Revenue Fund, which contains unobligated money from the previous fiscal year.