HJR 14 Summary

• Urges the Federal Communications Commission to increase the Rural Health Care Program budget to account for inflation, technological advances, and increased demand for broadband-based telehealth services.

• Notes the Rural Health Care Program budget has remained static at $400,000,000 since 1997, while an inflation-adjusted equivalent would be approximately $600,000,000.

• Highlights that Alaska rural health care providers received more than $82,000,000 (20.5 percent of total budget) in 2015, representing a 35 percent increase in dollars from 2014.

• Requests the FCC index the Rural Health Care Program budget for inflation and allow unused funds to carry forward to future years to ensure continued rural access to affordable telehealth services.

• Directs copies of the resolution to be sent to the FCC Secretary and Alaska's congressional delegation (Senators Murkowski and Sullivan, Representative Young).