
In a unified effort to investigate the pressing health concerns faced by military aviators, Senators Mark Kelly and Tom Cotton have introduced the Aviator Cancers Examination Study (ACES) Act. This bipartisan bill, with its counterpart championed by Representatives August Pfluger and Jimmy Panetta in the House, seeks to dissect and understand the alarming trend of cancer diagnoses among current and former service members who have operated military aircraft. The statement released by Senator Kelly's office echoes his investment as a veteran Navy pilot fully aware of the unique adversities tied to this noble yet hazardous duty.
"This is an important step toward giving our aircrew and their families the answers they deserve and ensuring we improve care and protections for current and future service members," Kelly underscored the significance of the legislation, as indicated on his official Senate page. The ACES Act is grounded on a 2021 Air Force study that has thrown light on the increased risk of certain types of cancer among aircrew members. Having served themselves, the legislators sponsoring the ACES act carry an urgency to safeguard comrades-in-arms against the invisible threat that continues to haunt them well into civilian life.
Senator Kelly, paralleling his efforts with the ACES bill, previously secured bipartisan support for the Counting Veterans' Cancer Act. Parts of this initiative were successfully rolled into the government funding package for Fiscal Year 2024. Intended to meld veteran cancer incidences into state and national registries, the act enhances visibility into the veteran demographic within cancer research and clinical trials. As Senator Kelly's press release states, "It will also help identify cancer-related disparities among veterans, improve the understanding of their cancer-related needs, and increase opportunities for veterans with cancer to be included in clinical trials, cancer-related research, and analysis."