ACES Act of 2025
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This law requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to arrange for the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to study cancer rates and deaths among veterans who served as active-duty aircrew on fixed-wing aircraft.
The study aims to identify occupational exposures linked to specific cancers among these veterans, potentially informing future benefits or health screening decisions for a population whose cancer risks have drawn congressional attention.
What this law does
What it does
The law directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to seek an agreement, within 30 days of enactment, with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to study the prevalence and mortality of cancer among veterans who served as active-duty aircrew members on fixed-wing aircraft in the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps. The study must identify occupational exposures such as chemicals and other hazards, review literature linking those exposures to overall cancer morbidity and mortality and to eleven named cancer types, and estimate prevalence and mortality using data from the VA, Department of Defense, the national death index, and a related prior Department of Defense study.
If the Secretary fails to finalize the agreement within 60 days of starting negotiations, the law requires a report to Congress explaining the delay and periodic briefings every 60 days until the agreement is finalized. The National Academies must ultimately report its findings to the Secretary and to the Veterans' Affairs committees of both chambers.
Key provisions
- 1Requires the VA Secretary to seek an agreement with the National Academies within 30 days of enactment to conduct the cancer study
- 2Sets a 60-day deadline to finalize the agreement, with mandatory reports and recurring briefings to Congress if missed
- 3Requires the study to identify occupational exposures and their links to overall and specific cancers, including eleven named cancer types
- 4Requires the study to estimate cancer prevalence and mortality among covered veterans using VA, Defense Department, CDC, and prior study data
- 5Requires the National Academies to submit a final report to the Secretary and congressional committees at the study's conclusion
Who is affected
Veterans who served as active-duty aircrew members on fixed-wing aircraft (pilots, navigators, weapons systems operators, and similar crew), the Department of Veterans Affairs, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, and the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees, which receive reports and briefings.
Why it matters
The study could establish a scientific basis for recognizing occupational cancer risks among aircrew veterans, potentially supporting future policy changes such as expanded VA benefits or screening. Delays trigger mandatory disclosure to Congress, creating accountability pressure on the VA to move the study forward promptly.
What changed
Agencies directed to act
Effective dates
- Deadline for the Secretary to seek an agreement with the National Academies
- Deadline to finalize the agreement after negotiations begin
How it works
The VA Secretary must seek an agreement with the National Academies within 30 days of enactment, then finalize it within 60 days of starting negotiations. Missing that deadline triggers a report to the Senate and House Veterans' Affairs Committees explaining the delay and an estimated completion date, plus recurring briefings every 60 days until the agreement is finalized. The National Academies will conduct the study using VA, Defense Department, and CDC mortality data, then report results to the Secretary and both congressional committees, with no additional funding or regulatory authority specified.
Legislative status & sources
Latest action
Became Public Law No: 119-32.
Official CRS summary
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This act 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.
Legislative subjects
Armed Forces and National Security; Aviation and airports; Cancer; Congressional oversight; Government studies and investigations; Hazardous wastes and toxic substances; Medical research; Research administration and funding; Veterans' medical care