“Over the past several years, With Honor Action and the For Country Caucus have stood with me in the fight to pass the ACES Act, legislation that takes a critical step toward uncovering the long-term cancer risks facing our nation’s military aviators and aircrew. Their support reflects a shared determination to back up our words with action and deliver, on a bipartisan basis, for those who have risked everything to defend our country."

Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX)

Member of the For Country Caucus & U.S. Air Force reservist

A Landmark Step Forward

On August 14, 2025, President Trump signed the Aviator Cancer Examination Study (ACES) Act, marking a pivotal step forward in uncovering and confronting the hidden cancer risks that America’s military aviators and aircrew face.

With Honor joined this effort early, supporting the legislation following its 2022 introduction by Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX), a For Country Caucus member and Colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve.

In 2023, a Defense Department study found that military pilots and aircrew had a roughly 24% higher chance of being diagnosed with cancer than the general U.S. population, with elevated incidences of cancers such as prostate, testicular, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and melanoma. These findings underscored what many in the aviation community have long suspected: that years of exposure to radiation, jet fuel, and other hazardous materials may carry lasting health consequences. For lawmakers who have worn the uniform, the data was more than alarming; it was a call to act.

Veterans Leading the Bipartisan Charge

The ACES Act was reintroduced in 2025 on a bipartisan, bicameral basis by Reps. And For Country Caucus Members August Pfluger (R-TX) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), a Navy veteran, along with Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ), a Navy veteran and With Honor ally, and Tom Cotton (R-AR), an Army veteran. It was endorsed by both With Honor Action, our public policy nonprofit, and the For Country Caucus.

The bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct a comprehensive study of cancer incidence and mortality among aviators and aircrew who served in the Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. By examining patterns, exposures, and potential causes, it aims to deepen our understanding of these elevated risks and guide improvements in screening, prevention, and care for veteran pilots and aircrew.

The ACES Act ensures that our nation takes responsibility for understanding and addressing the dangers faced by those who’ve spent their careers in service, gathering critical data that identifies causes and improves care for service members who dedicated their careers to defending our skies.

From Cockpit to Congress

In March 2025, Rep. Pfluger’s friend and fellow fighter pilot, Colonel (retired) Andrew “Pablo” Shurtleff, testified before Congress about the urgent need for the ACES Act. He recounted how a cancer diagnosis cut short his career as an F-22 fighter pilot, illustrating the very risks that the legislation seeks to address. Less than two months later, Pablo passed away at just 48 after a six-year battle with stage IV kidney cancer. His death gave profound weight to the cause he championed, turning what might have remained a statistic into an unmistakable call to action for those who flew for our nation and now face a second battle on the ground.

For thousands of aviators like Pablo, this is more than a personal health crisis. It is a matter of duty, a question of how our nation can ask its service members to face hidden, preventable risks without taking every possible step to safeguard them. The ACES Act reflects With Honor’s commitment to actionable solutions for those who have served our country.

At the End of the Day

The ACES Act shows what’s possible when military veterans in Congress lead with principle and purpose. In a time often defined by division, this legislation proves that shared service can still inspire shared commitment. By coming together across party lines, veteran lawmakers demonstrated that protecting those who’ve worn the uniform transcends politics: it’s a national responsibility.

For With Honor Action and the For Country Caucus, the ACES Act reflects a broader mission: advancing results-driven, bipartisan solutions that honor service and strengthen trust in government. Legislation like the ACES Act is how principled, veteran leadership delivers lasting impact by turning shared experience into shared action and ensuring that no one who served is left to face invisible risks alone.