Legis Daily

Mental Health in Aviation Act of 2025

USA119th CongressS-3257| Senate 
| Updated: 11/20/2025
John Hoeven

John Hoeven

Republican Senator

North Dakota

Cosponsors (23)
Jeanne Shaheen (Democratic)Tammy Duckworth (Democratic)Dan Sullivan (Republican)Ruben Gallego (Democratic)Katie Boyd Britt (Republican)Cindy Hyde-Smith (Republican)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Jack Reed (Democratic)Jerry Moran (Republican)James E. Risch (Republican)John R. Curtis (Republican)Amy Klobuchar (Democratic)John W. Hickenlooper (Democratic)Mike Rounds (Republican)John Kennedy (Republican)Deb Fischer (Republican)Martin Heinrich (Democratic)Andy Kim (Democratic)Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)Jeff Merkley (Democratic)Raphael G. Warnock (Democratic)Bernie Moreno (Republican)Lisa Murkowski (Republican)

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This legislation directs the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to revise its regulations and guidance within two years to encourage individuals carrying out aviation activities, such as pilots and air traffic controllers, to seek help for and disclose mental health conditions. It amends existing law to ensure that reviews of aviation workforce mental health include recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board and relevant clinical studies, requiring consultation with key stakeholders from the aviation and medical communities. The bill mandates an annual review of the special issuance process for mental health, aiming to reclassify additional medications and evidence-based treatments, enhance mental health knowledge and training for aviation medical examiners (AMEs), and potentially expand AME authority in certain mental health situations. It allocates up to $15 million annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2029 to the Office of Aerospace Medicine to recruit and train additional AMEs, clear backlogs of special issuance requests, and provide enhanced mental health training. Furthermore, the Administrator must implement recommendations from the Mental Health and Aviation Medical Clearances Aviation Rulemaking Committee within two years, providing justification to Congress if any recommendations are not adopted. The bill also establishes a public information campaign, funded with up to $1.5 million annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2029, to destigmatize mental health care, broaden awareness of supportive services, and improve trust between the FAA and aviation personnel. This campaign will involve making information easily accessible online and at AME offices, and collaborating with various aviation entities.
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Timeline
Sep 9, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-2591
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Nov 20, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Nov 20, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  • September 9, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-2591
    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.


  • November 20, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • November 20, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Transportation and Public Works

Mental Health in Aviation Act of 2025

USA119th CongressS-3257| Senate 
| Updated: 11/20/2025
This legislation directs the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to revise its regulations and guidance within two years to encourage individuals carrying out aviation activities, such as pilots and air traffic controllers, to seek help for and disclose mental health conditions. It amends existing law to ensure that reviews of aviation workforce mental health include recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board and relevant clinical studies, requiring consultation with key stakeholders from the aviation and medical communities. The bill mandates an annual review of the special issuance process for mental health, aiming to reclassify additional medications and evidence-based treatments, enhance mental health knowledge and training for aviation medical examiners (AMEs), and potentially expand AME authority in certain mental health situations. It allocates up to $15 million annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2029 to the Office of Aerospace Medicine to recruit and train additional AMEs, clear backlogs of special issuance requests, and provide enhanced mental health training. Furthermore, the Administrator must implement recommendations from the Mental Health and Aviation Medical Clearances Aviation Rulemaking Committee within two years, providing justification to Congress if any recommendations are not adopted. The bill also establishes a public information campaign, funded with up to $1.5 million annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2029, to destigmatize mental health care, broaden awareness of supportive services, and improve trust between the FAA and aviation personnel. This campaign will involve making information easily accessible online and at AME offices, and collaborating with various aviation entities.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Sep 9, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-2591
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Nov 20, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Nov 20, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  • September 9, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-2591
    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.


  • November 20, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • November 20, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
John Hoeven

John Hoeven

Republican Senator

North Dakota

Cosponsors (23)
Jeanne Shaheen (Democratic)Tammy Duckworth (Democratic)Dan Sullivan (Republican)Ruben Gallego (Democratic)Katie Boyd Britt (Republican)Cindy Hyde-Smith (Republican)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Jack Reed (Democratic)Jerry Moran (Republican)James E. Risch (Republican)John R. Curtis (Republican)Amy Klobuchar (Democratic)John W. Hickenlooper (Democratic)Mike Rounds (Republican)John Kennedy (Republican)Deb Fischer (Republican)Martin Heinrich (Democratic)Andy Kim (Democratic)Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)Jeff Merkley (Democratic)Raphael G. Warnock (Democratic)Bernie Moreno (Republican)Lisa Murkowski (Republican)

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

Transportation and Public Works

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted