Congressman Cohen Re-Introduces SOAR to Health and Wellness Act

WASHINGTON -- Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today introduced a bill that would reauthorize the Stop, Observe, Ask, and Respond (SOAR) to Health and Wellness Act. This legislation aims to renew and continue essential training for healthcare professionals and social workers in identifying and responding to victims of human trafficking. The bill creating the training program was originally introduced by Congressman Cohen in 2016 and signed into law in 2019. 

Today's re-introduction of the SOAR to Health and Wellness Act underscores Congressman Cohen’s ongoing commitment to combatting human trafficking and supporting victim recovery

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

“Human trafficking remains a pervasive issue that requires vigilant and informed responses, especially from those in positions to make a critical difference, such as our healthcare professionals. The SOAR to Health and Wellness Training Program has proven to be an invaluable resource in the fight against human trafficking, equipping frontline workers with the knowledge and tools needed to identify and assist victims effectively. This is a smart use of federal resources, and I’m pleased to reaffirm my dedication to eradicating human trafficking and ensuring the well-being of survivors.” 

The SOAR Act would support efforts at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to combat human trafficking by re-establishing the “Stop, Observe, Ask and Respond to Health and Wellness Training” program. While human trafficking victims are often difficult to identify, many trafficking victims end up in a health care setting at some point while being exploited, including in clinics, emergency rooms and doctors’ offices.  

The SOAR Act would help close the gap in health care settings without plans for treating human trafficking victims by:

• Re-establishing the “SOAR to Health and Wellness Training” Grant Program and fund training for healthcare professionals to recognize the indicators of human trafficking and provide appropriate care to victims; 
• Encouraging an interdisciplinary approach through collaboration among healthcare providers, law enforcement, and service organizations to support victims and bring perpetrators to justice; and; 
• Providing continued support to ongoing education and awareness efforts within the healthcare community to address human trafficking.

Congressman Cohen has been a leading advocate for addressing human trafficking for years. He first introduced the SOAR Act in 2016 following a discussion on human trafficking awareness at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis that he hosted, attended by first responders, health care workers, faith-based groups, and others. The bill’s initial passage and subsequent implementation have marked significant strides in the national effort to combat human trafficking, with more than 260,000 health care professionals across the country receiving specialized training since 2017. 

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