Senators Schmitt, Klobuchar Reintroduce Bill to Combat Human Trafficking

WASHINGTON – Last week, as part of National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, U.S. Senators Eric Schmitt (R-MO) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) reintroduced the Stop, Observe, Ask, and Respond (SOAR) to Health and Wellness Reauthorization Act, legislation that would allocate $4 million annually over the next five years to fund training for healthcare professionals to recognize the indicators of human trafficking and provide appropriate care to victims. 

“Many think that human trafficking can’t be in their backyard, that it simply can’t happen in their community, city or state. Human trafficking is a dark web that operates nearly everywhere, even in Missouri. The SOAR to Health and Wellness Reauthorization Act would support critical efforts within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to combat human trafficking by re-establishing the ‘Stop, Observe, Ask and Respond to Health and Wellness Training’ program. When I was Missouri’s Attorney General, I fought to root out human trafficking in Missouri, and now on the federal level I’m proud to join Senator Klobuchar in pushing for this important bipartisan legislation,” said Senator Eric Schmitt. 

“We must do all we can to prevent human trafficking and help victims break free from abuse. Given that more than two in three victims visit health care facilities while they are actively being trafficked, our bipartisan bill is critical to continue to train health care workers to identify and respond to the signs of human trafficking,” said Senator Amy Klobuchar. 

BACKGROUND:

• The SOAR to Health and Wellness Reauthorization Act reinforces commitment to ongoing education and awareness efforts within the healthcare community to address human trafficking.
• 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. 87.8% of trafficking survivors reported accessing healthcare services during their trafficking situation. Of this, 68.3% were seen at an emergency department.
• The SOAR Act helps close the gap in healthcare settings for treating and recognizing signs of human trafficking by:
  • Re-Establishing the “SOAR to Health and Wellness Training” Grant Program: The bill allocates $4 million annually over five years ($20 million) 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.

• The bill’s initial passage in 2019 and subsequent implementation have marked significant strides in the national effort to combat human trafficking, with tens of thousands of healthcare professionals across the country receiving specialized training.
• Senator Schmitt has been at the forefront of combating human trafficking, especially during his time as Missouri’s Attorney General. Whenhe was Missouri’s Attorney General, Schmitt led human trafficking operations that rescued victims and arrested offenders, cracked down on illicit massage parlors, and worked with state and local law enforcement to train officers to recognize the signs of human trafficking.