HR 1669119th CongressIntroduced

To amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize the Stop, Observe, Ask, and Respond to Health and Wellness Training Program.

Introduced: Feb 27, 2025

Sponsor: Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9] (D-Tennessee)

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

This bill would reauthorize the Stop, Observe, Ask, and Respond to Health and Wellness Training Program (SOAR) under the Public Health Service Act by changing the years for which the program is authorized. Specifically, it shifts the authorization period from fiscal years 2020 through 2024 to fiscal years 2026 through 2030. In other words, if enacted, the SOAR program would continue to be eligible for authorization and related activities through 2030, extending its federal backing for health and wellness training. The bill was introduced in the House by Mr. Cohen and referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Key Points

1Reauthorization objective: The bill reauthorizes the SOAR to Health and Wellness Training Program under the Public Health Service Act.
2Amended provision: Section 1254(h) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300d-54(h)) would be changed by striking “fiscal years 2020 through 2024” and inserting “fiscal years 2026 through 2030.”
3Scope of change: The change only affects the authorized funding/training window for the program; it does not introduce new programmatic requirements beyond extending the authorization period.
4Legislative status: Introduced in the House; referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. Sponsor listed as Mr. Cohen; no further actions provided in the text you provided.
5Program acronym: SOAR stands for Stop, Observe, Ask, and Respond to Health and Wellness Training Program.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected: Public health workforce and training programs that participate in or rely on the SOAR health and wellness training initiative; federal program administrators implementing the SOAR framework.Secondary group/area affected: State and local health departments, health care providers, educators, and students involved in health and wellness outreach and public health preparedness.Additional impacts: Provides continuity and predictability for program planning and funding discussions through 2026–2030; does not specify funding levels, so actual appropriations would still be determined through the annual appropriation process.

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