A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize the Stop, Observe, Ask, and Respond to Health and Wellness Training Program.
- Bill Number
- S. 208
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-01-23: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Last Updated
- 2025-04-21T12:24:17Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This bill (S. 208) aims to extend the authorization period for the Stop, Observe, Ask, and Respond to Health and Wellness Training Program (SOAR), a federal initiative under the Public Health Service Act focused on training related to health and wellness, likely for professionals such as first responders or healthcare workers to identify and address issues like mental health concerns.
Key Provisions
- Reauthorization: Updates the funding authorization for the SOAR program to cover fiscal years 2025 through 2029.
- Budget Adjustment: Rescinds (cancels) $20,000,000 from unobligated balances in the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Nonrecurring Expenses Fund, which holds funds for one-time or special expenses.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Extends the previous authorization period for the SOAR program, which was set for fiscal years 2020 through 2024, by five additional years without altering the program's core structure or activities.
- Introduces a specific rescission of funds from an HHS account, redirecting resources indirectly to support the reauthorization without requiring new appropriations.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Allows HHS to continue operating and funding the SOAR program through 2029, promoting ongoing training efforts; the fund rescission may limit flexibility for other departmental initiatives by reducing available reserves.
- On Citizens: Ensures sustained access to health and wellness training programs, potentially benefiting individuals in high-stress professions (e.g., law enforcement or emergency services) by supporting mental health awareness and intervention skills.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic public health training.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): Primary administrator of the program, responsible for implementation and fund management.
- Healthcare and First Responder Professionals: Direct participants in SOAR training, gaining skills for health and wellness support.
- Congress and Taxpayers: Involved in budgetary decisions, with the rescission affecting overall federal spending priorities.
- Bipartisan Sponsors: Introduced by Senators Schmitt and Klobuchar, indicating support from both parties for mental health-related initiatives.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens continuity of public health programs under the Public Health Service Act by preventing a funding lapse, without expanding scope or authority.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's spending power under Article I, Section 8, by authorizing and rescinding funds through legislative action.
- Political: Demonstrates bipartisan effort on wellness training amid growing focus on mental health post-pandemic; the rescission could spark debate on reallocating HHS funds, potentially influencing future appropriations bills for efficiency and fiscal restraint.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2025-01-23: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 2025-01-23: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- To amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize the Stop, Observe, Ask, and Respond to Health and Wellness Training Program. — issued 2025-01-23 — PDF (2 pages)