Kelly’s Bill to Study Cancer Impacts Among Current and Former Military Aviators Signed into Law 

This week, Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Tom Cotton (R-AR) and Representatives August Pfluger (R-TX-11) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19), all of whom are veterans, celebrated their Aviator Cancer Examination Study (ACES) Act being signed into law. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation seeks to lower military aviation cancer rates and was passed by voice vote in the House and unanimously in the Senate earlier this year.  

“As a former Navy pilot, there are certain risks that we know and accept come with our service, but we know far less about the health risks that are affecting many aviators and aircrews years later,” said Sen. Kelly. “Veteran aviators and aircrews deserve answers about the correlation between their job and cancer risks so we can reduce those risks for future pilots. Getting this across the finish line has been a bipartisan effort from the start, and I’m proud to see this bill become law so we can deliver real answers and accountability for those who served.”   

“The ACES Act is now the law of the land. I’m grateful to President Trump for signing it today and for all his ongoing support of our veterans. We owe it to past, present, and future aviators in the armed forces to study the prevalence of cancer among this group of veterans,” said Sen. Cotton.   

“I am thrilled that President Trump has signed the ACES Act into law today. This legislation is more than just a bill—it’s a lifeline and a message to every pilot who has put on the uniform to protect our skies that we will fight to protect their health in return. The ACES Act has been my top priority in Congress, and it is deeply personal to me. I introduced this bill in honor of my dear friend and former fighter pilot, Colonel Shurtleff, who recently lost his life in a second battle he never signed up to fight. We owe it to him, and every servicemember like him, to properly study the prevalence of military aviation cancer rates,” said Rep. Pfluger.   

“Many veterans face serious health risks, including increased rates of cancer potentially linked to aviation service,” said Rep. Panetta. “With the ACES Act now signed into law, we can begin getting our aviators and their families the answers and care they deserve. This bipartisan achievement reaffirms our commitment to understanding these diagnoses and ensuring that military and VA providers have the data they need to better protect those who’ve served our nation.”   

See what veteran organizations and advocacy groups are saying in support of the legislation:  

“On July 21, the House passed the ACES Act, a collaboration between Congressmen August Pfluger and Jimmy Panetta and Senators Mark Kelly and Tom Cotton, and the MACH coalition. And today, it was signed into law by President Trump. The ACES Act is the most significant piece of military / Veteran aviator healthcare legislation ever passed. The National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine will conduct a study to get to the root causes of our significantly elevated cancer rates. While there is more work to do, we are grateful for today’s achievement,” said Vince Alcazar, COL, USAF, ret., MACH Coalition Founder & Director. 

“With Honor Action celebrates the bipartisan ACES Act being signed into law. This marks an important step toward understanding and addressing the elevated cancer risks faced by our nation’s military aviators. Thank you to the leadership of Representatives August Pfluger and Jimmy Panetta, along with Senators Tom Cotton and Mark Kelly. This legislation will help ensure that those who took to the skies in service of our country receive the answers and care they deserve. The ACES Act reflects what’s possible when leaders come together to honor the service and sacrifice of our veterans,” said Rye Barcott, Co-Founder and CEO, With Honor. 

 “As part of our mission to honor and empower wounded warriors, Wounded Warrior Project has been pleased to support the ACES Act and offer our commitment to investigate what has caused higher rates of cancer and mortality among military aircrew. Today, we are grateful for the leadership of Representatives Pfluger (R-TX-11) and Panetta (D-CA-19) and Senators Kelly (D-AZ) and Cotton (R-AR) to ensure that this important legislation became law. The ACESActwill be a critical step toward ensuring that veterans receive timely diagnoses, specialized screenings, and the care they have earned,” said Jose Ramos, Vice President for Government and Community Relations, Wounded Warrior Project.  

“As a nurse, I believe in evidence. As a combat veteran, I’ve seen firsthand what years of flying in toxic, high-stress environments can do to the human body. And as a cancer survivor, I know that early answers lead to early action. The ACES Act is not just about research—it’s about giving our service members the future they earned. This is how we change outcomes, save lives, and honor those who flew before us. The ACES Act marks a turning point in our nation’s commitment to understanding and preventing service-connected illnesses. We commend Congress for its swift action and the President’s support,” said Dr. Sheri Boucher, DNP-RN (USAF LtCol. Ret.), Combat Veteran, Nurse, Cancer Survivor, Vice President of HunterSeven Foundation. 

“The Fleet Reserve Association extends heartfelt gratitude to Representatives August Pfluger and Jimmy Panetta, and Senators Mark Kelly and Tom Cotton, for their steadfast leadership in sponsoring the ACES Act (H.R. 530/S.201). This vital legislation, now signed into law, directs critical research into cancer risks among military aircrew, ensuring better care and support for our aviators who have served our nation. We also commend all members of Congress who rallied to get this bill across the finish line, honoring the sacrifices of our service members with the justice and health protections they deserve,” said Theo Lawson, Assistant Director, Legislative Programs, Fleet Reserve Association.  

“On behalf of the 1.5 million veterans nationwide, The American Legion is proud to see the Aviator Cancer Examination Study (ACES) Act be signed into law. This legislation’s swift passage highlights the importance and need for research into the impacts of toxic exposures, especially for those who were exposed to harmful chemicals on aircraft. We applaud Rep. Pfluger, Rep. Panetta, Senator Kelly, and Senator Cotton for prioritizing this issue, and we look forward to the study’s findings,” said Jim LaCoursiere, Jr., National Commander, The American Legion. 

Background: 

Pilots and aircrews have been found to face higher risks of developing prostate cancer and melanoma, with potential links to non-Hodgkin lymphoma and testicular cancer. The ACES Act directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to study cancer incidence and mortality rates among aviators and aircrew who served in the Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. This legislation is critical as it would improve our understanding of the link between military service and cancer risks among Veteran aviators. By better understanding the correlation between aviator service and cancer, we can better assist our military and provide more adequate care for our veterans.  

The ACES Act is complementary to Kelly’s bipartisanCounting Veterans’ Cancer Act, which requires Veterans’ Health Administration facilities to share cancer data with state cancer registries, thereby guaranteeing their inclusion in the national registries. Key provisions of the Counting Veterans’ Cancer Act were included in the first government funding package of Fiscal Year 2024. 

Click here to read the bill text.