Don Bacon (R-NE)
Minuteman III Health and Safety Act
A Republican bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is known as the Minuteman III Health and Safety Act. It directs the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs to seek an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The purpose of this agreement is to conduct a review of the occupational health and safety conditions at operational facilities associated with the LGM-30G Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile system. The review will look into past studies, occupational hazards, cancer rates among personnel, and the effectiveness of environmental surveillance. It also requires recommendations for future safety standards and designs, including applications for the LGM-35A Sentinel system. Finally, a report containing these findings must be submitted to congressional defense committees within 18 months.
Yes· 3 of 9
- Scored +7
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?
The legislation directly addresses historical health concerns and cancer studies affecting military personnel and veterans who worked in Minuteman III facilities.
- Scored +6
Does this help veterans get medical care?
The bill mandates a comprehensive review of occupational health and safety conditions and cancer incidence rates among Minuteman III missile launch officers and support personnel, leading to better medical evaluations and healthcare standards.
- Scored +6
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill mandates an independent review and a detailed public report to congressional defense committees regarding health and safety conditions at military facilities.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 2(b)(1) mandates an independent review of the Missile Community Cancer Study methodology and findings, which could bring transparency and better understanding to cancer risks faced by military personnel.
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Section 2(b)(3) calls for an independent case-controlled retrospective study of cancer incidence rates among Minuteman III missile launch officers and support personnel compared to other Air Force members, helping to formally identify health impacts on workers.
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Section 2(b)(5) and Section 2(b)(6) evaluate the suitability and effectiveness of policies, procedures, and technologies to prevent occupational hazards, reduce toxic substance exposure, and improve medical screening and testing for personnel.
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Section 2(b)(7) requires recommendations for Department of Defense actions to ensure that health and safety conditions meet current safety requirements and apply to the future LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile system, which aims to protect future workers.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- The provided text does not contain any specific sections or provisions that outline potential negative impacts, burdens, or consequences for individuals or groups of people in the United States.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — The legislation directly addresses historical health concerns and cancer studies affecting military personnel and veterans who worked in Minuteman III facilities. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — Middle-aged service members and support personnel associated with the Minuteman III system will benefit from enhanced medical monitoring and health risk assessments. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Young adults serving as military personnel or missile launch officers will benefit from improved occupational safety evaluations and hazard protections.
- Healthcare
- Does this help veterans get medical care? — The bill mandates a comprehensive review of occupational health and safety conditions and cancer incidence rates among Minuteman III missile launch officers and support personnel, leading to better medical evaluations and healthcare standards. Does this put more money into medical research? — The legislation provides for an independent scientific review and study of cancer incidence rates and occupational hazards associated with missile facilities.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill mandates an independent review and a detailed public report to congressional defense committees regarding health and safety conditions at military facilities.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — By investigating occupational hazards, toxic substance exposures, and cancer rates among missile personnel, the bill aims to improve safety conditions and medical monitoring for current and former service members.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — The legislation tasks the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine with conducting a thorough scientific review and retrospective study of occupational health data.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill requires a comparative evaluation of environmental surveillance policies to detect exposure to toxic substances like groundwater contamination and air quality issues in operational facilities.
- 9/17/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
- Introduced in House
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.