A Republican bill with no cosponsors · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
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
The POPCaP Act of 2026 directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to create a precision oncology program specifically for veterans with prostate cancer. The bill establishes a network of centers of excellence to provide advanced care and conduct research. These centers must perform activities such as genetic sequencing, biomarker-specific clinical trials, and metastasis biopsy. The program will be managed by a Program Leadership team and requires annual reporting to Congress on funding and patient outcomes.
Yes· 3 of 22
- Scored +10
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?
The program is exclusively for veterans with prostate cancer, providing them with cutting-edge medical care.
- Scored +10
Does this help veterans get medical care?
The bill establishes a specialized precision oncology program specifically for veterans with prostate cancer.
- Scored +9
Would men be better off under this?
The bill specifically targets prostate cancer, which exclusively affects men.
The opposite
- Scored -2
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
The reliance on specific 'centers of excellence' may make access difficult for those in remote areas.
- Scored -2
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill mandates the creation of a new program and funding for centers of excellence.
- Scored -1
Does this reduce what the federal government owes?
The bill authorizes additional government spending of $15.5 million annually from 2027-2029.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Access to Specialized Care: Veterans with a diagnosis of prostate cancer are eligible to participate in the program (Sec. 7330E(b)).
-
Advanced Diagnostic Tools: The program requires centers to establish genetic sequencing for veterans with advanced prostate cancer and metastasis biopsy capabilities (Sec. 7330E(d)(1)(A), (J)).
-
Travel Assistance: The bill mandates that centers provide travel support to veterans with mutations to help them access studies (Sec. 7330E(d)(1)(E)).
-
Research and Innovation: The program focuses on developing biomarker-specific clinical trials and participating in industry-sponsored precision oncology studies (Sec. 7330E(d)(1)(F), (G)).
-
Comprehensive Staffing: Each center must employ a specific team of experts, including a medical oncologist, interventional radiologist, urologist, radiation oncologist, and pathologist (Sec. 7330E(d)(2)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Limited Location of Centers: The program relies on specific designated "centers of excellence," which may limit easy access for veterans who do not live near the listed facilities (Sec. 7330E(c)(1)).
-
Risk of Program Termination: Starting January 1, 2030, the Secretary can terminate a facility's designation if it is determined that the facility is failing to serve the program's purposes (Sec. 7330E(c)(4)(A)).
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 program is exclusively for veterans with prostate cancer, providing them with cutting-edge medical care. Would men be better off under this? — The bill specifically targets prostate cancer, which exclusively affects men. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Seniors are a primary demographic affected by prostate cancer and are likely to be eligible veterans. Would retired people be better off under this? — Many retired veterans are in the age bracket most susceptible to prostate cancer. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — African American men have a higher incidence of prostate cancer, making this specialized care highly beneficial. Would Asian Americans be better off under this? — Provides improved access to specialized cancer care for veterans of this ethnicity. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — Provides improved access to specialized cancer care for veterans of this ethnicity. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Provides travel support and government-funded advanced care for eligible veterans. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — Prostate cancer primarily affects middle-aged and older men. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Provides access to high-cost precision oncology treatments through the VA. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — Provides improved access to specialized cancer care for veterans of this ethnicity. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Many centers of excellence are located in major urban medical centers. Would white Americans be better off under this? — Provides improved access to specialized cancer care for veterans of this ethnicity. Would high-income households be better off under this? — Provides an additional high-quality care option, though less critical for those who can pay privately. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The reliance on specific 'centers of excellence' may make access difficult for those in remote areas.
- Healthcare
- Does this help veterans get medical care? — The bill establishes a specialized precision oncology program specifically for veterans with prostate cancer. Does this put more money into medical research? — The bill mandates the development of biomarker-specific clinical trials and precision oncology research. Does this make health care easier to get in general? — It increases access to advanced genetic sequencing and clinical trials for a specific patient population.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — The bill provides veterans with specialized, high-tech cancer care and travel assistance for research.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — The bill creates a network of excellence for genetic sequencing and precision oncology research.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires annual reports to Congress on funding and patient outcomes. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill expands the operational mandates of the federal Department of Veterans Affairs.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill requires each center to employ a minimum set of medical specialists and research staff. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill mandates the creation of a new program and funding for centers of excellence. Does this reduce what the federal government owes? — The bill authorizes additional government spending of $15.5 million annually from 2027-2029.
- 7/29/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/15/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- Introduced in Senate
Angus KingIndependent · Maine