ROTOR Act

The Rotary-wing Operator Toxic Occupational Research Act (ROTOR Act) would require the Director of the Defense Health Agency (DHA), in coordination with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI), to carry out a two-phase study focused on cancer among military rotary-wing pilots and aviation support personnel (aircrew) who have served in any of the armed services and receive health care benefits. In Phase I, the study would determine whether there is an increased prevalence or mortality from a specified list of cancers among these “covered individuals” compared to the general population (with a special comparison for women). If Phase I finds elevated risk for any cancer, Phase II would identify potential causes—carcinogenic toxins or hazardous materials associated with rotor-wing operation (e.g., fumes, fuels), operating environments with non-ionizing radiation exposure (such as radar), and other service-related toxic exposures not tied to rotor-wing activity (like burn pits, contaminated water, soil toxins)—and where, and in what duties, such exposures occurred. Data would be formatted to align with the SEER cancer data format and disaggregated by race, gender, and age. The act directs use of SEER data, the NDAA 2021 Sec. 750 study, and other relevant military studies as sources.