S. 3257

119 S3257 IS: Mental Health in Aviation Act of 2025
 U.S. Senate
 2025-11-20
 text/xml
 EN
 Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
 II  119th CONGRESS  1st Session  S. 3257  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.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Mental Health in Aviation Act of 2025  .
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.