Bipartisan legislation has been introduced by Arkansas Republican Senator Tom Cotton and Arizona Democratic Senator Mark Kelly, that would address cancer cases effecting military aviators.

The legislation directs the VA to work with numerous other agencies to study cancer prevalence among the crew of fixed wing aircraft among the armed forces. And to determine if chemicals or agents can be tied to cases of cancer including those affecting the brain, pancreas, and colon, among others.

“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 Cotton “Our legislation will make the necessary commitments to protect our men and women in uniform long after their service has ended,”

“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,” said Kelly a pilot and astronaut himself.

Legislation like this is important because it comes on the heels of the PACT Act, which was able to take care of our veterans who had been exposed to chemical agents while serving. The faster legislation like this is approved, the quicker our veteran aviators could potentially find answers.

This is also important bipartisan legislation to kick off the arrival of the new administration in the White House, and as a new Director of Veterans Affairs takes over in former Congressman Doug Collins.

There is also companion legislation being sponsored in the house by Congressman August Pfluger (Texas-11) and Congressman Jimmy Panetta (California-19).