U.S. Senator Ted Cruz has introduced the Retaining Essential Support for Combat and Unified Evacuation (RESCUE) Act of 2025. The proposed legislation aims to ensure that the U.S. Army maintains a dedicated aeromedical evacuation (MEDEVAC) capability for various operations, including combat, domestic disaster response, and civil support missions.
Senator Cruz emphasized the importance of supporting armed forces personnel: “It is our duty to ensure that the brave men and women who serve in our armed forces have the support they need to maintain operational readiness and evacuation capabilities during military missions. The RESCUE Act will to ensure the U.S. Army retains the necessary resources to evacuate and treat wounded troops and civilians through a trusted MEDEVAC system. I urge my colleagues in both chambers to support this legislation and pass it swiftly.”
The bill addresses national security and disaster readiness by preserving MEDEVAC capabilities for service members and civilians both domestically and internationally.
Key provisions of the RESCUE Act include codifying a dedicated MEDEVAC capability within the Medical Service Corps, which encompasses training, staffing, doctrine, and purpose-built aircraft. It also requires certification from the Surgeon General before any changes affecting MEDEVAC operations can be made. Additionally, it mandates congressional notification and a formal risk assessment prior to transitioning to dual-use or general-purpose aviation configurations.
The act seeks to preserve the Army’s role as the Joint Service provider for intra-theater aeromedical evacuation while protecting standards such as the “Golden Hour” for lifesaving en route care during combat and domestic emergencies.
