[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 115 (Thursday, July 11, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S4850]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 2523. Mr. KELLY (for himself and Mr. Cotton) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4638, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2025 for military activities 
of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for 
defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military 
personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which 
was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

        At the end of subtitle E of title VII, add the following:

     SEC. 750. MODIFICATION OF STUDY ON THE INCIDENCE OF CANCER 
                   DIAGNOSIS AND MORTALITY AMONG MILITARY AVIATORS 
                   AND AVIATION SUPPORT PERSONNEL.

       Section 750 of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National 
     Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021(Public Law 
     116-283; 134 Stat. 3717) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)--
       (A) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and
       (B) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following new 
     paragraph:
       ``(4) Phase 3.--
       ``(A) In general.--Immediately following completion of the 
     studies under paragraphs (2) and (3), the Secretary of 
     Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly 
     seek to enter into an agreement with the National Academies 
     of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (in this section 
     referred to as the `National Academies'), under which the 
     National Academies shall--
       ``(i) conduct a study to identify exposures associated with 
     military occupations of covered individuals, including 
     relating to chemicals, compounds, agents, and other 
     phenomena; and
       ``(ii) conduct a review of the studies under paragraphs (2) 
     and (3).
       ``(B) Elements.--The study and review conducted pursuant to 
     the agreement entered into under subparagraph (A) shall 
     address the following:
       ``(i) The associations between exposures referred to in 
     subparagraph (A)(i) and the incidence or prevalence of 
     overall cancer morbidity, overall cancer mortality, and 
     increased incidence or prevalence of the following:

       ``(I) Brain cancer.
       ``(II) Colon and rectal cancers.
       ``(III) Kidney cancer.
       ``(IV) Lung cancer.
       ``(V) Melanoma skin cancer.
       ``(VI) Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
       ``(VII) Pancreatic cancer.
       ``(VIII) Prostate cancer.
       ``(IX) Testicular cancer.
       ``(X) Thyroid cancer.
       ``(XI) Urinary bladder cancer.
       ``(XII) Other cancers as determined appropriate by the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the 
     National Academies.

       ``(ii) To the extent possible, the prevalence of and 
     mortality from the cancers specified in clause (i) among 
     Veteran Aviators.
       ``(iii) The unique needs and challenges faced by Veteran 
     Aviators in relation to cancer.
       ``(iv) The current services the Department of Veterans 
     Affairs provides for Veteran Aviators affected by cancer, 
     including the following:

       ``(I) Disability compensation.
       ``(II) Availability and quality of cancer treatment 
     facilities and specialists.
       ``(III) Outreach and education efforts to inform veterans 
     about available services.
       ``(IV) Coordination of care between Department and non-
     Department health care providers.

       ``(v) Existing policies and protocols regarding cancer 
     prevention, early detection, and treatment within the 
     military and veteran communities.
       ``(vi) Gaps in current research on military-related cancer 
     risks and proposals for future research directions to address 
     those gaps.
       ``(vii) Recommendations as follows:

       ``(I) On ways the Department of Defense and the Department 
     of Veterans Affairs can improve targeted interventions, 
     screening protocols, and preventive measures to reduce cancer 
     incidence and mortality among covered individuals, Veteran 
     Aviators, and members of the Armed Forces on active duty, 
     including the following:

       ``(aa) Implementing advanced screening technologies and 
     protocols specific to high-risk groups.
       ``(bb) Enhancing training programs for medical personnel on 
     recognizing and managing military-related cancer risks.
       ``(cc) Increasing funding for research on cancer prevention 
     and treatment relevant to exposures while serving in the 
     Armed Forces.
       ``(dd) Developing comprehensive wellness programs aimed at 
     reducing cancer risk factors among covered individuals.

       ``(II) On ways for the Department of Veterans Affairs to 
     improve care for Veteran Aviators affected by cancer, 
     including the following:

       ``(aa) Strengthening support systems for veterans and their 
     families, including counseling and financial assistance.
       ``(bb) Enhancing data collection and analysis to better 
     track cancer outcomes and improve service delivery.
       ``(cc) Implementing patient-centered care models to address 
     the unique needs of veteran cancer patients.

       ``(III) On legislative or regulatory changes needed to 
     support the implementation of the recommendations specified 
     under subclauses (I) and (II), including potential changes to 
     existing laws and policies to facilitate improved care and 
     research initiatives.

       ``(C) Report.--At the conclusion of the study and review 
     required under subparagraph (A), the National Academies shall 
     submit to the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs, and the appropriate committees of Congress a report 
     containing the results of the study and review.''; and
       (2) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the following 
     new paragraph:
       ``(4) The term `Veteran Aviator' means an individual who 
     served on active duty in the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine 
     Corps as an aircrew member of a fixed-wing aircraft, 
     including as a pilot, navigator, weapons systems operator, 
     aircraft system operator, or as any other crew member who 
     regularly flew in a fixed-wing aircraft.''.
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