00                       HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 9                                                                     
01 Urging the United States Congress to extend enhanced tax credits for health insurance                                   
02 premiums under the Affordable Care Act.                                                                                 
03 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                               
04       WHEREAS affordable health care is a fundamental need for all state residents, and                               
05 access to medical care is essential for the well-being, economic stability, and dignity of                              
06 individuals and families; and                                                                                           
07 WHEREAS the federal Affordable Care Act has significantly reduced the number of                                       
08 uninsured state residents, enabling tens of thousands of families, self-employed individuals,                           
09 hourly workers, and small business owners to secure health insurance and access necessary                               
10 medical care; and                                                                                                       
11 WHEREAS the United States Congress originally enacted the health care premium                                         
12 tax credits through the American Rescue Plan and extended the tax credits in the Inflation                              
13 Reduction Act, making health insurance more accessible and affordable for more than 23,000                              
14 state residents; and                                                                                                    
15       WHEREAS the enhanced premium tax credits are set to expire at the end of 2025                                   
16 unless Congress takes action; and                                                                                       

01 WHEREAS the expiration of the enhanced premium tax credits will result in the more                                    
02 than doubling of health insurance premiums for tens of thousands of state residents and will                            
03 result in residents losing the ability to afford health insurance altogether; and                                       
04 WHEREAS the expiration of the enhanced premium tax credits will force many state                                      
05 residents to choose between health care and other basic needs, such as housing and food,                                
06 while also increasing reliance on state-funded assistance programs and emergency medical                                
07 services, thereby straining the state's budget and resources; and                                                       
08 WHEREAS the continuation of enhanced premium tax credits is vital for maintaining                                     
09 economic stability, lowering health care costs for families, and ensuring that state residents do                       
10 not delay or forgo critical medical care; and                                                                           
11 WHEREAS reduced enrollment in the state's individual health insurance marketplace                                     
12 could destabilize risk pools, leading to higher premiums and the potential for more carriers to                         
13 leave the already limited health insurance provider market in the state; and                                            
14 WHEREAS failure to extend the enhanced premium tax credits will have severe                                           
15 economic and health consequences for families, individuals, the sustainability of the state's                           
16 health insurance marketplace, and the economy of the state as a whole;                                                  
17 BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature respectfully urges the United                                        
18 States Congress to act swiftly through budget reconciliation or other legislative means to                              
19 extend beyond 2025 enhanced premium tax credits for health insurance premiums under the                                 
20 Affordable Care Act; and be it                                                                                          
21 FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature calls on the state's                                               
22 congressional delegation to champion the extension of enhanced premium tax credits,                                     
23 prioritizing the health and economic stability of the state's residents by ensuring that                                
24 affordable health care remains accessible to all.                                                                       
25 COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable Donald J. Trump, President                                   
26 of the United States; and the Honorable Lisa Murkowski and the Honorable Dan Sullivan,                                  
27 U.S. Senators, and the Honorable Nicholas Begich, U.S. Representative, members of the                                   
28 Alaska delegation in Congress.