Senate committee passes Mental Health in Aviation Act

The House passed a similar bill in September. The legislation would direct the FAA to modernize its medical certification process to better support pilots and air traffic controllers who seek treatment, as well as address the aviation medical examiner shortage and special issuance backlog.

The bill, championed by Sens. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), also calls for implementing recommendations from the 2024 Mental Health and Aviation Medical Clearances Rulemaking Committee. AOPA served on that committee, which addressed the culture within the aviation industry, the stigma and lack of knowledge surrounding mental health treatment, mistrust in the aeromedical process, and the often-complicated process of obtaining a medical certificate.

“I commend Senators Hoeven and Duckworth for their work on this important issue,” said AOPA Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Advocacy Jim Coon. “This bill is one step closer to bringing long overdue reforms. Pilots should feel confident, should they need to seek treatment, without fear of possibly losing their livelihood.”

AOPA sent a letter to Senate Commerce Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and ranking member Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) in December, emphasizing AOPA’s “strong support” for the bill, saying “efforts to make meaningful steps to ensure pilots can prioritize their health are welcomed and appreciated.”

The bill’s next step will be consideration by the full Senate.