S.1951 - Retaining Essential Support for Combat and Unified Evacuation Act of 2025; RESCUE Act of 2025 (119th Congress)
Summary
S.1951, the RESCUE Act of 2025, aims to preserve the aeromedical evacuation capabilities of the Army's Medical Service Corps. It ensures the corps maintains dedicated personnel, training, doctrine, and aircraft for aeromedical evacuation missions. The bill clarifies the authority of the Army's aviation branch and medical department in these operations.
Expected Effects
This bill will likely maintain the current structure and capabilities of the Army's aeromedical evacuation services. It restricts restructuring into general-purpose aviation elements without congressional notification and risk assessment. The Secretary of the Army must consult with the Surgeon General before making changes to allocations.
Potential Benefits
- Maintains a specialized medical evacuation force within the Army.
- Ensures continued support for combatant commands and contingency operations.
- Supports civil authorities and disaster response efforts.
- Requires a formal risk assessment before restructuring, ensuring readiness.
- Preserves medical command and control under the Surgeon General.
Potential Disadvantages
- May limit flexibility in resource allocation by restricting restructuring.
- Could create bureaucratic hurdles with required notifications and consultations.
- Potential for disagreements between the aviation branch and medical department regarding operational control.
- The bill's focus on the Army Medical Service Corps may not fully address joint service needs.
- The bill does not address funding implications, which could impact its effectiveness.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill aligns with the constitutional mandate to "provide for the common defence" (Preamble). It falls under Congress's power to raise and support armies (Article I, Section 8). The bill does not appear to infringe on any individual rights or liberties protected by the Constitution or its amendments.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).