S3257119th CongressWALLET

Mental Health in Aviation Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Senator John Hoeven

Introduced

Summary

Normalize mental-health help-seeking among pilots and air traffic controllers. It would change FAA medical rules, fund examiner training and a public campaign, and set timelines and reporting to improve trust and safety in aviation.

Show full summary
  • Pilots and air traffic controllers would face updated medical rules and annual reviews of the special issuance process to make disclosure and treatment more feasible. The bill also funds a destigmatizing public information campaign up to $1.5 million per year.
  • Aviation medical examiners and the FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine would get new capacity and training resources to recruit examiners, clear backlogs, and support medication reclassification and improved examiner guidance. Funding is capped at $15.0 million per year for these activities.
  • FAA oversight and industry stakeholders would see tighter implementation rules. The bill requires the agency to adopt Aviation Rulemaking Committee recommendations within 2 years, consult labor and schools, and provide briefings within 90 days and a 2-year implementation report.

*Would increase federal spending by up to $66.0 million across FY2026–FY2029, raising outlays over that period.*

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Public mental-health campaign for aviation

If enacted, the FAA would set aside up to $1,500,000 each year for fiscal years 2026–2029 for a public information campaign. The campaign would discourage stigma, encourage aviation workers to seek mental-health care, and list supportive services online and at Aviation Medical Examiner offices. The FAA must brief Congress within 90 days of starting the campaign and report on outreach and stakeholder feedback within two years.

Change FAA mental-health rules and reports

If enacted, the FAA would revise rules (including part 67) within two years to encourage help-seeking and disclosure of mental-health conditions. The FAA must implement the April 1, 2024 Aviation Rulemaking Committee recommendations within two years or explain to Congress why not. Task group reports must add a review of NTSB recommendations, list clinical studies and protocols used by professionals, and consult unions, pilot groups, and accredited flight schools as needed. The Administrator must start an annual review of the special-issuance process 180 days after the first required 411(f) report and act on report recommendations within 180 days or provide a written justification to Congress within 90 days.

More FAA medical examiners funded

If enacted, the FAA would set aside up to $15,000,000 each year for fiscal years 2026–2029 to recruit and train more aviation medical examiners, including psychiatrists. The funds would help clear special-issuance backlogs at the Office of Aerospace Medicine and expand examiner oversight and mental-health training. Pilots and air traffic controllers could get faster medical reviews and fewer delays.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

John Hoeven

ND • R

Cosponsors

  • Tammy Duckworth

    IL • D

    Sponsored 11/20/2025

  • Katie Britt

    AL • R

    Sponsored 11/20/2025

  • Richard Durbin

    IL • D

    Sponsored 11/20/2025

  • Deb Fischer

    NE • R

    Sponsored 11/20/2025

  • John Hickenlooper

    CO • D

    Sponsored 11/20/2025

  • Lisa Murkowski

    AK • R

    Sponsored 11/20/2025

  • Amy Klobuchar

    MN • D

    Sponsored 11/20/2025

  • John Curtis

    UT • R

    Sponsored 11/20/2025

  • John Reed

    RI • D

    Sponsored 11/20/2025

  • Jerry Moran

    KS • R

    Sponsored 11/20/2025

  • Andy Kim

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 11/20/2025

  • James Risch

    ID • R

    Sponsored 12/1/2025

  • Jeff Merkley

    OR • D

    Sponsored 12/1/2025

  • Bernie Moreno

    OH • R

    Sponsored 12/4/2025

  • Martin Heinrich

    NM • D

    Sponsored 12/4/2025

  • Dan Sullivan

    AK • R

    Sponsored 1/6/2026

  • Tammy Baldwin

    WI • D

    Sponsored 1/6/2026

  • John Kennedy

    LA • R

    Sponsored 2/9/2026

  • Raphael Warnock

    GA • D

    Sponsored 2/9/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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