To amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize the Stop, Observe, Ask, and Respond to Health and Wellness Training Program.
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Would reauthorize the Stop, Observe, Ask, and Respond (SOAR) to Health and Wellness Training Program through FY2030, extending a federal program that trains health care and social service providers to identify and assist victims of human trafficking.
What this bill would do
What it would do
The bill would extend the authorization of the SOAR to Health and Wellness Training Program by amending Section 1254(h) of the Public Health Service Act, replacing the current authorized funding window of fiscal years 2020 through 2024 with fiscal years 2026 through 2030. The program, administered by the National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Center within the Department of Health and Human Services, trains health care workers and social service providers to recognize and respond to human trafficking.
The bill makes no other substantive change — it does not alter program structure, eligibility, or delivery requirements. It simply resets the authorization clock to allow the program to continue operating and receiving appropriations through the end of FY2030.
Key provisions
- 1Would reauthorize the SOAR to Health and Wellness Training Program by extending the authorization period from fiscal years 2020–2024 to fiscal years 2026–2030.
Who would be affected
Health care providers, social workers, and other social service professionals who would receive training through the SOAR program; the Department of Health and Human Services, which administers the program through the National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Center; and individuals who have experienced or are at risk of experiencing human trafficking.
Why it matters
Without reauthorization, the SOAR program would lack a current authorization window, putting future funding and operation at risk. Extending it through FY2030 would allow the federal government to continue equipping frontline health and social service workers with the skills to identify and support trafficking survivors — a population that often first encounters the system through a medical or social services visit.
What would change
Changes to existing law
Reauthorizes Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C. § 300d-54(h) (Sec. 1)
Strikes 'fiscal years 2020 through 2024' and inserts 'fiscal years 2026 through 2030' to extend the SOAR program authorization.
Agencies directed to act
Effective dates
- Reauthorization of the SOAR program funding window
Funding and costs
Congressional Budget Office estimate
CBO estimates H.R. 1669 would cost $17 million over the 2025–2030 period in discretionary spending (funds requiring annual appropriations), with no effect on the deficit or direct (mandatory) spending.
H.R. 1669 would reauthorize $4 million per year from 2026 through 2030 for the Stop, Observe, Ask, and Respond (SOAR) program, which trains health care and social service providers to identify and respond to human trafficking. CBO estimates the bill would cost $17 million over the 2025–2030 period and an additional $3 million after 2030 in discretionary spending (amounts that depend on future appropriations), based on historical spending patterns for the program. The bill would have no effect on direct (mandatory) spending, revenues, or the deficit. CBO identified no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates in the bill.
How implementation would work
The bill's single operative change is a date amendment in the Public Health Service Act. No new rulemaking, reporting requirements, or grant cycles are created. The Department of Health and Human Services, through the National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Center, would continue administering the existing program under the reauthorized authority, subject to annual appropriations.
Legislative status & sources
Latest action
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 331.
Official CRS summary
Show the CRS summaryHide the CRS summary
This bill reauthorizes through FY2030 the Stop, Observe, Ask, and Respond (SOAR) to Health and Wellness Training Program, which is administered by the National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Center in the Department of Health and Human Services. The program provides training for health care and social service providers on how to identify and support those who have experienced or are at risk of experiencing human trafficking.
Legislative subjects
Employment and training programs; Government information and archives; Health; Health personnel; Health programs administration and funding; Human trafficking; Smuggling and trafficking; Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Committee report
H. Rept. 119-381