Barbosa Act

The Barbosa Act requires the Department of Defense to provide enhanced colorectal cancer screening to active-duty military members who served in specific locations with toxic exposure from burn pits. It directly affects service members deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, Djibouti, and other designated areas (like Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Syria) during periods when burn pits were used. The policy mandates screenings - such as colonoscopies or fecal tests - starting five years after qualifying service, following U.S. Preventive Services Task Force guidelines. Additionally, the Secretary of Defense must report within two years comparing colorectal cancer rates among deployed service members versus non-deployed personnel and the civilian population.