The U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee on April 14 approved a bipartisan bill sponsored by U.S. Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) to modernize how the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approaches mental health and medical certification. The bill now heads to the full Senate for consideration.
“We appreciate the support of the Commerce Committee in advancing our legislation to the full Senate, where we will continue our efforts to secure passage of this legislation,” Sen. Hoeven said.
The committee approved the Mental Health in Aviation Act, S. 3257, which Sen. Hoeven introduced in November 2025 alongside lead original cosponsor U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) to require the FAA administrator to revise regulations for certain individuals carrying out aviation activities who disclose a mental health diagnosis or condition.
“Our pilots, air traffic controllers and aviation professionals need to maintain their mental health in order to do their jobs and keep the traveling public safe,” said Sen. Hoeven. “The Mental Health in Aviation Act will address mental health challenges in the aviation industry, promote early intervention, provide additional resources to the FAA’s Office of Aerospace Medicine, and support the well-being of aviation professionals and the overall safety of our skies.”
Among numerous provisions, S. 3257 would require the FAA to modernize mental health guidance regulations for pilots and air traffic controllers to encourage the early disclosure and treatment of mental health conditions, and to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health in aviation.
Additionally, the FAA would have to annually review its Special Issuance Medical Certification process, appropriate mental health treatments and medication use, and overall mental health training for Aviation Medical Examiners.
The measure also would allocate $15 million annually through fiscal year 2028 to the FAA’s Office of Aerospace Medicine to expand and train additional medical examiners, including specialists, to improve the efficiency of the FAA’s Special Issuance Medical Certification process.
If enacted, S. 3257 also would require a public information campaign to help reduce the stigma around mental health care in aviation and encourage pilots and air traffic controllers to seek treatment, according to a bill summary provided by the senators.
“Our aviation system depends on the well-being of our pilots and air traffic controllers, who operate under an immense amount of stress,” Sen. Duckworth said. “I’m proud our common-sense, bipartisan bill that would make it easier for our aviation workforce to take care of themselves without fearing for their job security passed through committee.”
Among the 10 other lawmakers who joined Sen. Duckworth as an original cosponsor of S. 3257 are U.S. Sens. Deb Fischer (R-NE), John Curtis (R-UT), and Jerry Moran (R-KS).
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