Mental health legislation clears House committee
Bill requires FAA to revise regs, adopt recommendations
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on June 11 passed the bipartisan Mental Health in Aviation Act of 2025. The bill now heads to the full House for consideration.
Photo by David Tulis.
Key provisions in the bill, introduced by Reps. Sean Casten (D-Ill.) and Pete Stauber (R-Minn.) include:
- Requiring the FAA to revise regulations to encourage voluntary mental health disclosures and treatment.
- Calling for annual reviews of the special issuance process to expand treatment options and medications.
- Providing funding to recruit and train more aviation medical examiners, including psychiatrists.
- Implementing recommendations from the 2024 Mental Health and Aviation Medical Clearances Rulemaking Committee.
“This is an important step toward a more supportive approach to pilot mental health,” said AOPA President Darren Pleasance.
AOPA has advocated for a balanced approach to pilot mental health—one that protects aviation safety while ensuring pilots are not punished for seeking treatment.
Jay Wiles
Director of Public and Media Relations
Director of Public and Media Relations Jay Wiles joined AOPA in 2025. He is a student pilot and lifelong aviation enthusiast who previously worked at ForeFlight, and as a journalist in Austin, Texas.
