# The ACES Act: Understanding a Study on Military Pilots and Cancer

The ACES Act is asking the government to investigate whether military pilots and aircrew members are getting cancer at higher rates than the general population. Specifically, Congress wants the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine—an independent research organization—to study cancer rates among people who served as active-duty aircrew in the Air Force, Navy, Army, or Marines. This includes pilots, navigators, weapons officers, and other crew members who regularly flew in fixed-wing aircraft.

The study will look at what these aircrew members were exposed to during their service that might increase cancer risk. This could include chemicals, radiation, or other hazardous materials they encountered in their work environment. Researchers will then review scientific literature to see if there's a connection between these exposures and various types of cancer, including brain cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, and several others. The goal is to determine whether aircrew members actually do have higher cancer rates compared to other people.

To answer these questions, the study will use existing medical records and databases from the Veterans Affairs Department, the Department of Defense, and other government health agencies. Researchers will also look at death records to track cancer mortality. Once the study is complete, the National Academies will report their findings to Congress and the Veterans Affairs Department. This information could eventually help determine whether military aircrew members should receive special health benefits or recognition for service-related illnesses, similar to how the government currently handles other military health conditions.

ACES Act

Pfluger, August

ACES Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to enter into an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to study and report on the prevalence and mortality of cancers among veterans who served on active duty as aircrew members and regularly flew in fixed-wing aircraft.