ROTOR Act

This bill tells the Defense Health Agency, working with NIH and the National Cancer Institute, to study cancer in military helicopter pilots and aviation support crews. First, they must check if these service members get certain cancers more often, or die from them more often, than people the same age in the general public. The cancers include brain, breast, colon/rectal, kidney, lung, melanoma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, ovarian, pancreatic, prostate, testicular, and bladder cancer.

If higher rates are found, a second phase will look for possible causes. The study would check for toxins from aircraft work (like fumes and fuels), non-ionizing radiation from radar, and other service exposures such as burn pits, contaminated water, or soil toxins. Data must match the SEER cancer program format and be broken down by race, gender, and age, using SEER and past Defense studies as sources. Findings are reported on a set timeline.

• Who is affected: Military rotary-wing (helicopter) pilots and aviation support personnel.
• What changes: A two-step cancer study; possible hazard identification (toxins, radiation, other exposures); data shared in a standard format with breakdowns by race, gender, and age; use of SEER and prior Defense studies .
• When: Initial findings due within one year after the bill becomes law; if a second phase is needed, its report is due within one year after the first report is submitted .