The Ho-Chunk Nation Legislature passed Resolution 04-04-23 B by an affirmative vote of 10 members, two opposed, and zero abstaining.  This resolution states, “in light of the unprecedented circumstances, and pursuant to its Constitutional authority, and the Per Capita Distribution Ordinance, does hereby declare that no per capita distribution will be made to the 7,766 eligible tribal members on May 1, 2023.”

     The Per Capita Distribution Ordinance provides for the per capita distribution of revenues appropriated by the Legislature from gaming revenues.  The Ho-Chunk Nation President Marlon White Eagle issued ‘Administrative Order March 17, 2020-1,’ which closed the Nation’s casinos to the public, effective no later than March 20, 2020, due to the public health emergency.  The Nation’s gaming facilities re-opened on June 29, 2020.

     The current resolution states that “the Legislature finds that the declaration of per capita distribution for May 1, 2023 is impacted as a result of the closure of the Nation’s gaming operations and the Nation’s continued recovery from the impacts of the pandemic on the Nation’s gaming revenues.”

     The general welfare assistance runs from July 2022 through June 2023.  The budget contains funds to provide $800 to adult tribal members each month and $400 to children tribal members each quarter.