Congressman Cohen Speaks in Favor and Votes to Reauthorize the SOAR Act

WASHINGTON - Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today spoke from the House floor and voted for reauthorizing the Stop, Observe, Ask and Respond (SOAR) to Health and Wellness Act that became law in 2018.

The legislation aims to renew and continue essential training for health care professionals in identifying and responding to human trafficking.

The measure passed the House by voice vote.

In his floor speech, Congressman Cohen said the idea for the legislation came from a meeting he had with health professionals at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, then added in part:

"The SOAR to Health and Wellness Program has made tremendous strides to train health care workers on the signs of human trafficking and the appropriate steps to take once a victim has been identified. As Members of Congress, we should continue to support this program so that more people can be trained to properly identify and assist victims of human trafficking.

"We should pass the reauthorization bill, and we should let our constituents know that if they are being trafficked or are suspicious that someone they see is being trafficked, help is available."

Congressman Cohen also offered phone numbers to assist those suspicious they are witnessing possible trafficking: the Homeland Security Investigations Tip Line at 866-347-2423 and the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888.

See those remarks here.

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: The bill would allocate $4 million annually to fund training for healthcare professionals to recognize the indicators of human trafficking and provide appropriate care to victims;
• Encouraging an Interdisciplinary Approach: The SOAR Act encourages collaboration among healthcare providers, law enforcement, and service organizations to support victims and bring perpetrators to justice; and
• Providing Continued Support: The bill reinforces commitment 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, attended by first responders, health care workers, faith-based groups, and more. The bill's initial passage and subsequent implementation have marked significant strides in the national effort to combat human trafficking, with tens of thousands of health care professionals across the country receiving specialized training.

###