Don Bacon (R-NE)
Aerial Transport and High Consequence Infectious Diseases 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 requires the Secretary of the Air Force to start a program by October 1, 2027, for the safe, long-range aerial transport of people known or suspected to be infected with high-consequence infectious diseases. It makes this program the main component within the Department of Defense for transporting these patients and allows it to support other federal, state, local, civilian, and academic partners. The program must train and certify medical personnel, establish care standards and safety protocols to minimize infection risks, and manage equipment like personal protective equipment and transport isolation systems. Additionally, the bill directs the development of joint doctrine and specialized teams, and supports research and testing for medical countermeasures and transport systems.
Yes· 3 of 6
- Scored +8
Does this make the country readier for the next outbreak?
The legislation directs the Secretary of the Air Force to establish a specialized program for transporting infectious disease patients, enhancing national preparedness for disease outbreaks.
- Scored +6
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
The bill establishes a program for the safe, long-range aerial transport of patients with high-consequence infectious diseases, improving specialized healthcare access and coordination.
- Scored +5
Does this put more money into medical research?
The bill supports research, development, testing, and evaluation of medical countermeasures and transport systems for high-consequence infectious diseases.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Better Support and Coordination: Section 2(b)(2) and Section 2(c)(7) state that the program will provide support to other federal departments, state and local governments, and civilian and academic partners, enabling a coordinated response to tactical incidents and large-scale contingencies. This is positive because it helps different levels of government work together during serious disease threats.
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Improved Safety and Training: Section 2(c)(1) and Section 2(c)(2) require the development of a training curriculum for medical personnel and the establishment of infection prevention standards to maximize patient survival and minimize infection risks for aircrews and medical staff. This is a positive outcome for the safety of workers and patients alike.
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Better Equipment and Research: Section 2(c)(4) and Section 2(c)(8) set standards for personal protective equipment and transport isolation systems, while supporting research and testing to improve safety and effectiveness. This ensures that the people handling these dangerous diseases have proper and well-tested gear.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- The provided text does not contain any specific sections or provisions outlining potential negative consequences, burdens, or harms 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.
- Healthcare
- Does this make the country readier for the next outbreak? — The legislation directs the Secretary of the Air Force to establish a specialized program for transporting infectious disease patients, enhancing national preparedness for disease outbreaks. Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill establishes a program for the safe, long-range aerial transport of patients with high-consequence infectious diseases, improving specialized healthcare access and coordination. Does this put more money into medical research? — The bill supports research, development, testing, and evaluation of medical countermeasures and transport systems for high-consequence infectious diseases.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — The bill supports research, development, testing, and evaluation of medical countermeasures and transport equipment for infectious diseases.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — The bill enhances Department of Defense medical transport and response capabilities that can support broader military personnel and veterans during public health crises.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The legislation tasks the Department of Defense and Air Force with establishing a centralized national capability and executive agency role for high-consequence infectious disease transport.
- 10/13/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
- Introduced in House