Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) has issued a statement following President Donald Trump’s signing of the Aviator Cancer Examination Study (ACES) Act into law. The legislation, which aims to address and reduce cancer rates among military aviators, passed both chambers of Congress with strong bipartisan support. The Senate approved the bill unanimously, while the House passed it by voice vote earlier this year.
The ACES Act was led in the Senate by Senators Cotton and Mark Kelly (D-Arizona), and in the House by Congressmen August Pfluger (Texas-11) and Jimmy Panetta (California-19).
“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 Senator Cotton.
Congressman Pfluger also commented on the significance of the legislation: “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.”
The ACES Act builds upon findings from a 2021 Air Force study that indicated aircrew face an increased risk for certain cancers. Under this new law, the Department of Veterans Affairs will collaborate with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to research cancer prevalence and mortality among those who served as active-duty aircrew members operating fixed-wing aircraft across various branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. The goal is to improve understanding of these risks, identify areas for further research, and enhance care for affected veterans.
