SJR 15-OPPOSE MEDICAID CUTS  4:05:20 PM CHAIR MINA announced that the final order of business would be CS FOR SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 15(HSS), Calling on the state's congressional delegation to oppose cuts to federal spending on Medicaid. 4:05:44 PM SETH TAGARIAN, Staff, Senator Forrest Dunbar, on behalf of Senator Dunbar, prime sponsor, gave the sponsor statement for CSSJR 15(HSS) [in the committee file], which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: Senate Joint Resolution 15 calls on Alaska's congressional delegation to oppose proposed federal cuts to Medicaid. More than 250,000 Alaskansincluding children, seniors, people with disabilities, and low- income adultsrely on Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for essential health services. These cuts would be devastating to our families, communities, and economy. Rural and remote communities depend on Medicaid at higher rates due to a shortage of providers, expensive travel, and limited access to employer-sponsored insurance. Medicaid is also a cornerstone of Alaska's Tribal health system and supports nearly 100,000 children and covers almost 40 percent of births annually. Federal Medicaid funding represents more than $2 billion each year, 78 percent of the program's cost in our state. Slashing this funding would force Alaska to consider drastic reductions in coverage, benefits, or provider payments, putting lives and livelihoods at risk. Beyond direct health care impacts, Medicaid sustains a vital segment of Alaska's economy. It supports high-quality union jobs, strengthens small businesses by providing health care coverage to workers, and ensures that seniors and individuals with disabilities can remain in their homes and communities with dignity. Proposed federal cutsnearly $880 billion over 10 yearswould endanger these benefits. SJR 15 urges our congressional delegation to protect the health and economic security of Alaskans by rejecting these cuts. 4:07:41 PM The committee took an at-ease from 4:07 p.m. to 4:08 p.m. 4:08:14 PM CHAIR MINA opened public testimony on CSSJR 15(HSS). After ascertaining that there was no one who wished to testify, she closed public testimony. 4:08:43 PM CHAIR MINA noted there had been a meeting regarding cuts to Medicaid and stated it was clear that many Alaskans are benefactors to Medicaid. She thanked Senator Dunbar for putting forward this resolution. 4:09:13 PM REPRESENTATIVE MEARS moved to report CSSJR 15(HSS) out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSSJR 15(HSS) was reported out of the House Health and Social Services Standing Committee.