S.Amdt. 3783

This amendment, submitted by Mr. Kelly, aims to add a new section (SEC. 724) to bill S. 2296. The purpose is to require the Director of the Defense Health Agency to lead a two-phase study on the prevalence and mortality of cancer among military rotary-wing pilots and aviation support personnel.

Initial Phase

The first phase focuses on determining if there is an increased prevalence or mortality rate for specific cancers among covered individuals compared to similarly aged people in the general population. Specified cancers include:

• Brain, breast, colon and rectal, kidney, lung, melanoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, ovarian, pancreatic, prostate, testicular, thyroid, and urinary bladder cancers.
• Any other cancers deemed appropriate by the Director of the Defense Health Agency in coordination with the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute.

Second Phase

If the initial phase finds an increased prevalence or mortality rate, a second phase will be conducted to identify:

• Carcinogenic toxins or hazardous materials related to rotary-wing aircraft operations, such as fuels, fumes, or liquids.
• Operating environments involving non-ionizing radiation, such as electromagnetic fields or radars.
• Other potential exposures during military service, such as contaminated water, soils, or burn pits.

Reporting and Data

The Director of the Defense Health Agency must submit reports on the findings to the appropriate congressional committees. Data must be formatted consistently with the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program and disaggregated by age, gender, and race.