To amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize the Stop, Observe, Ask, and Respond to Health and Wellness Training Program.
Summary
What This Bill Does
This bill reauthorizes the SOAR to Health and Wellness Training Program under section 1254(h) of the Public Health Service Act. It replaces the prior authorization for fiscal years 2020 through 2024 with fiscal years 2026 through 2030. The SOAR program trains health care, behavioral health, public health, and social-service professionals to stop, observe, ask, and respond to human trafficking and related exploitation. The bill is narrow: it extends the authorization window rather than rewriting the program's core structure.
Who Benefits and How
Health care providers benefit from continued federal training support on recognizing and responding to human trafficking. Trafficking survivors and potential victims benefit if trained providers identify warning signs and connect them to appropriate services. Behavioral health and social-service professionals benefit from continued SOAR training availability. HHS program staff benefit from renewed authorization for fiscal years 2026 through 2030. Hospitals, clinics, and public health agencies benefit from a continued training framework for trafficking-related encounters.
Who Bears the Burden and How
The Department of Health and Human Services must continue administering the SOAR training program during the new authorization period. Training grantees or contractors must deliver updated training and technical assistance. Health care and social-service organizations may need staff time to participate in training. Congressional appropriators must decide whether and how much to fund the reauthorized program.
Key Provisions
- Reauthorizes the SOAR to Health and Wellness Training Program.
- Replaces fiscal years 2020 through 2024 with fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
- Extends federal training support for providers who may encounter human trafficking victims.
- Provides continued Public Health Service Act authority for HHS to support SOAR training.
- Directs program continuity for health care, behavioral health, public health, and social-service training audiences.
- Preserves the program's focus on stopping, observing, asking, and responding to trafficking.
- Leaves the core Public Health Service Act program structure intact.
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
Reauthorizes the Public Health Service Act's Stop, Observe, Ask, and Respond to Health and Wellness Training Program for fiscal years 2026 through 2030, extending federal training support that helps health care and social-service providers identify and respond to human trafficking.
Key Policy Areas
Health Care, Human Trafficking, Training
Primary Purpose
Reauthorizes the Public Health Service Act's Stop, Observe, Ask, and Respond to Health and Wellness Training Program for fiscal years 2026 through 2030, extending federal training support that helps health care and social-service providers identify and respond to human trafficking.
Policy Domains
House resolution provisions
Identified Gains
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation- Health care providers
- Trafficking survivors
- Behavioral health professionals
- Social-service professionals
- Hospitals and clinics
- Public health agencies
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
Identified Costs
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation- Department of Health and Human Services
- Training grantees
- Health care organizations
- Social-service organizations
- Congressional appropriators
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
ReportedAdditional sponsor: Mr. Carter of Georgia
Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the …
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 331.
Reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. …
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Mr. Cohen introduced the following bill; which was referred to …
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "hhs"
- → Department of Health and Human Services
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology