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The Mental Health in Aviation Act would require the Federal Aviation Administration to modernize its regulations and processes for pilots and air traffic controllers who disclose mental health conditions. Currently, aviation professionals must report any mental health treatment, but face prolonged delays and bureaucratic hurdles when seeking to return to work, creating a culture where many avoid seeking help altogether. If enacted, this bill would direct the FAA to revise regulations to encourage early disclosure and treatment of mental health conditions, annually review and improve its special issuance medical certification process, and consider approving additional psychiatric medications for aviators. The legislation would also fund recruitment and training of more aviation medical examiners to reduce backlogs in processing mental health-related certification requests, and allocate resources for public information campaigns to reduce stigma around mental health care in the aviation industry. The bill has bipartisan support and a companion House version passed unanimously in September 2025. The Senate version is currently under consideration by the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
AI-generated summary
Congress
119th Congress
Introduced
Nov 20, 2025
No CBO cost estimate has been published for this bill.
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Apr 14, 2026
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Apr 14, 2026
