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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3257 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 3257
To require the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to
revise regulations for certain individuals carrying out aviation
activities who disclose a mental health diagnosis or condition, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
November 20, 2025
Mr. Hoeven (for himself, Ms. Duckworth, Mrs. Britt, Mr. Durbin, Mrs.
Fischer, Mr. Hickenlooper, Ms. Murkowski, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Curtis,
Mr. Reed, Mr. Moran, and Mr. Kim) introduced the following bill; which
was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to
revise regulations for certain individuals carrying out aviation
activities who disclose a mental health diagnosis or condition, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Mental Health in Aviation Act of
2025''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.
(2) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term
``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(A) the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives;
(B) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate;
(C) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives; and
(D) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.
(3) FAA.--The term ``FAA'' means the Federal Aviation
Administration.
(4) Special issuance.--The term ``special issuance'' has
the meaning given such term in section 67.401 of title 14, Code
of Federal Regulations.
SEC. 3. REGULATIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS CARRYING OUT AVIATION ACTIVITIES.
(a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Administrator shall update regulations, including in
part 67 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, and issue relevant
guidance as appropriate to encourage individuals to--
(1) seek help for mental health conditions or symptoms of
mental health conditions; and
(2) to disclose conditions or symptoms described in
paragraph (1).
(b) Consultation; Report Requirements.--Section 411(d) of the FAA
Reauthorization Act of 2024 (49 U.S.C. 44703 note) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (4)--
(A) in subparagraphs (A) and (B), by striking
``and'' at the end;
(B) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at
the end and inserting a semicolon; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new
subparagraphs:
``(D) a review and evaluation of any
recommendations reached by the National Transportation
Safety Board related to aviation workforce mental
health; and
``(E) a description of relevant clinical studies,
research, diagnostic manuals, and protocols used by the
licensed professionals as of the date of the enactment
of this subparagraph.''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(5) Consultation.--In carrying out this subsection, the
task group shall consult with relevant stakeholders from the
aviation and medical communities, as necessary, including--
``(A) the exclusive bargaining representatives of
air traffic controllers of the FAA certified under
section 7111 of title 5, United States Code;
``(B) organizations representing collective
bargaining representatives of airline pilots;
``(C) institutions of higher education that are
accredited by the Aviation Accreditation Board
International; and
``(D) any other stakeholder determined relevant by
the task group, including any stakeholders described in
paragraph (3)(B).''.
(c) Implementation.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, and for any report issued thereafter,
not later than 180 days after the submission of each report
required under section 411(f) of the FAA Reauthorization Act of
2024 (49 U.S.C. 44703 note), the Administrator shall take
appropriate action to implement the recommendations of such
report.
(2) Justification.--In the event that the Administrator
decides not to implement a recommendation described in
paragraph (1), the Administrator shall submit to the
appropriate committees of Congress the justification for such
decision not later than 90 days after receiving the report
containing such recommendation.
SEC. 4. ANNUAL REVIEW OF MENTAL HEALTH SPECIAL ISSUANCE PROCESS.
Beginning on the date that is 180 days after the Administrator
submits the first report pursuant to section 411(f) of the FAA
Reauthorization Act of 2024 (49 U.S.C. 44703 note), and annually
thereafter, the Administrator shall conduct an annual review of the
special issuance process, and update, as appropriate, the applicable
regulations, policies, orders, and guidance on mental health-related
special issuance for pilots and air traffic controllers to--
(1) consider the reclassification of additional medications
and evidence-based treatments that may be safely prescribed to
treat mental health conditions;
(2) improve mental health knowledge and training for
aviation medical examiners;
(3) if the Administrator determines appropriate, expand
mental-health related situations in which an aviation medical
examiner may issue a certificate consistent with the
recommendations of the Mental Health and Aviation Medical
Clearances Rulemaking Committee described in section 6; and
(4) improve the special issuance process for pilots and air
traffic controllers.
SEC. 5. IMPROVING CAPACITY FOR THE OFFICE OF AEROSPACE MEDICINE.
Of the amounts made available pursuant to section 106(k)(1) of
title 49, United States Code, the Administrator shall designate not
more than $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2029 to--
(1) recruit, select, and train additional aviation medical
examiners and human intervention motivation study aviation
medical examiners, including those who are psychiatrists;
(2) expand capacity to provide oversight of aviation
medical examiners and clear the backlog of special issuance
requests and cases awaiting review at the Office of Aerospace
Medicine of the FAA;
(3) provide enhanced mental health training to aviation
medical examiners to ensure such personnel have requisite
knowledge and the ability to appropriately evaluate individuals
for FAA medical certification; and
(4) support any other related activities, as determined
appropriate by the Administrator.
SEC. 6. IMPLEMENTATION OF AVIATION RULEMAKING COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATIONS.
(a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Administrator shall implement, as appropriate, the
recommendations of the Mental Health and Aviation Medical Clearances
Aviation Rulemaking Committee, which were submitted to the
Administrator on April 1, 2024.
(b) Consultation.--In carrying out subsection (a), the
Administrator shall consult with the stakeholders described in section
411(d)(5) of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 (as added by this
Act).
(c) Justification.--If the Administrator decides not to implement a
recommendation described in subsection (a), the Administrator shall
submit to the appropriate committees of Congress the justification for
such decision not later than 90 days after the deadline described in
such subsection.
SEC. 7. PUBLIC INFORMATION CAMPAIGN.
(a) In General.--Of the amounts made available pursuant to section
106(k)(1) of title 49, United States Code, the Administrator shall
designate not more than $1,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2026
through 2029 for a public information campaign or similar public
education efforts to--
(1) destigmatize individuals in (or interested in joining)
the aviation industry who seek mental health care;
(2) broaden awareness of available supportive services; and
(3) improve trust between the FAA and pilots and air
traffic controllers.
(b) Requirements.--The public information campaign or similar
public education efforts described in subsection (a) shall include--
(1) making publicly available (in an easily accessible
format and location online)--
(A) information that would help destigmatize the
reporting of mental health concerns impacting the
aviation workforce, and encourage individuals to seek
help for such concerns; and
(B) other information to effectuate the outcomes
described in subsection (a);
(2) posting the information described in paragraph (1) at
Aviation Medical Examiner offices; and
(3) collaborating with air carriers (as defined in section
40102 of title 49, United States Code), flight training
institutions and entities (as described in parts 61 and 141 of
title 14, Code of Federal Regulations), and small, medium, and
large hub airports (as defined in such section 40102) to
encourage such entities to make such information easily
accessible to airmen and air traffic controllers.
(c) Briefing and Report to Congress.--
(1) Briefing.--Not later than 90 days after the
Administrator establishes the public information campaign
described in subsection (a), the Administrator shall brief the
appropriate committees of Congress on the actions taken to
develop the campaign and the plans to implement the campaign.
(2) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the Administrator
implements the public information campaign, the Administrator
shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report
describing the engagement and outreach resulting from such
campaign, including a description of any applicable feedback
from aviation industry stakeholders on the efficacy of the
campaign.
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
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