Bill Overview
Title: ACES Act
Description: This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to seek to enter into an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to study the incidence and mortality of cancer among individuals who served in the regular or reserve components of the Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps as air crew members of a fixed-wing aircraft or personnel supporting generation of such an aircraft.
Sponsors: Rep. Pfluger, August [R-TX-11]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals who served in the Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps as air crew or support for fixed-wing aircraft
Estimated Size: 100000
- The bill focuses on individuals who served as air crew members or supported fixed-wing aircraft in the Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps.
- The study will cover any incidence and mortality related to cancer among these service members.
- The population is restricted to those who were part of the regular or reserve components of these military branches.
- The implications of the study can help in understanding cancer risks and improve healthcare outcomes for this group.
Reasoning
- The primary demographic for this policy includes former air crew members and support personnel of the Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps.
- The wellbeing scores are especially influenced by the anticipation of increased medical understanding, which could lead to better healthcare support in the future.
- The interviews should reflect varied demographic characteristics to represent the diversity present in military service.
- Given the budgetary constraints, the impact on wellbeing is more about long-term health insights than immediate health interventions.
- The commonness scores reflect the diversity of the veterans' situations within the population of interest, including age, gender, and health status.
Simulated Interviews
Veteran, Former Navy Pilot (San Diego, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think the study could unveil critical insights about my health risks.
- It's reassuring to know that our service-related health concerns are being taken seriously.
- I hope this leads to better screening options.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Retired Air Force Mechanic (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe this study is overdue. Many of us have suspected connections between our service and health issues.
- Improved data on our health could aid advocacy efforts.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Veteran Affairs Volunteer, Former Marine Corps Support Staff (Norfolk, VA)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I am hopeful for broader attention to veteran healthcare needs.
- Studies like this can pave the way for more specific healthcare provisions for us.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Commercial Pilot, former Air Force Captain (Seattle, WA)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This is a positive step for those of us still worried about the long-term impacts of our service.
- I don't expect immediate changes for me, but it's great for the community.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Software Engineer, Former Navy Avionics Specialist (Tampa, FL)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's good to know studies like these are starting; there could be health issues I am unaware of.
- I hope they include younger veterans in their scope.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Retired, Former Marine Aircraft Mechanic (Topeka, KS)
Age: 71 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Better understanding of cancer causation could tailor the care I'm receiving.
- While I likely won't see the full benefits, future generations will benefit.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Active Duty, Air Force Flight Engineer (Colorado Springs, CO)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This initiative will help shape the policies I might rely on in the future.
- Glad the focus is on long-term impacts.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 9 |
Veteran Advocate, Former Navy Engineer (Portland, OR)
Age: 50 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This study might highlight the critical gaps in veteran healthcare.
- By focusing on cancer, we can address one of the major concerns affecting lives post-service.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Retired Air Force Nurse (Miami, FL)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could lead to more personalized health strategies for veterans like myself.
- I hope they look into genetic predispositions as well.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Logistics Manager, Former Marine Corps Operations Assistant (Chicago, IL)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's never too late to start understanding service-related health issues better.
- I hope this leads directly to improved screening procedures for us.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $20000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $25000000)
Year 2: $20000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $25000000)
Year 3: $20000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $25000000)
Year 5: $20000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $25000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The financial commitment over the years is essential to capture comprehensive data and analysis.
- The focus on military veterans requires a sensitive and thorough approach to health data collection and privacy.
- Potential for significant contributions to understanding cancer risks associated with military aviation service.