11.20.25

Hoeven, Duckworth Introduce Mental Health in Aviation Act

WASHINGTON – Senators John Hoeven (R-ND) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced the Mental Health in Aviation Act, bipartisan legislation to modernize the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) approach to mental health and medical certification.

The Mental Health in Aviation Act improves aviation safety by encouraging both pilots and air traffic controllers to seek mental health care, when needed, while reducing the stigma associated with mental health and the potential impact on a pilot’s career. Under current FAA regulations, pilots and air traffic controllers are required to obtain and maintain an FAA Medical Certification, which requires the disclosure of medical treatment, including for mental and behavioral health treatment. Once disclosed, even pilots with minor or well-managed conditions can face prolonged uncertainty and bureaucratic delays as they work through the existing processes that allow for treatment and safe return to operation. Further, the FAA has limited psychiatric staff to process pilot mental health evaluations, compounding the bureaucratic delays and leading to a significant backlog of special issuance applications.

In recognition of these challenges, the FAA convened the Mental Health and Aviation Medical Clearances Rulemaking Committee (ARC) in 2023 to assess barriers for pilots and controllers to acknowledge, seek care and treatment, and report mental health concerns, and to develop and implement policy and protocol recommendations. The ARC delivered 24 targeted recommendations aimed at removing obstacles to mental health care while upholding the highest of aviation safety standards. The Mental Health in Aviation Act builds on these recommendations to modernize the FAA’s approach, 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. Specifically, the legislation 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.
  • Annually review the FAA’s Special Issuance Medical Certification process, appropriate mental health treatments and medication use, and overall mental health training for Aviation Medical Examiners.
  • Allocate $15 million annually (FY2026–FY2029) 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.
  • Allocate $1.5 million annually (FY2026–FY2029) for 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.

This legislation builds upon efforts taken at the University of North Dakota (UND) after John Hauser, a UND Aviation student, took his own life in an aircraft in October 2021. These efforts include the establishment of:

  • The John A. Hauser Mental Health in Aviation Initiative Fund at UND, which helped develop the UpLift Peer Support program, to offer mental health support for aviation students from their own peers. This first of its kind program for an educational aviation institution is being replicated globally.
  • An annual Aviation Mental Health Summit, to foster collaboration among collegiate aviation training programs, mental health professionals, industry leaders, and the FAA to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health in aviation.
  • The North Dakota Center for Aerospace Medicine at the University of North Dakota, which recently signed a $5 million aeromedical research agreement with the FAA.

“It’s imperative that our pilots, air traffic controllers and aviation professionals have access to the resources they need to maintain their mental health,” said Hoeven. “The Mental Health in Aviation Act seeks to address mental health issues throughout 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.”

“I sincerely thank Senator Hoeven for his leadership in advancing the Mental Health in Aviation Act. This bill ensures members who serve in our aviation community, including pilots and air traffic controllers, have access to the critical mental-health support they need,” said Andy Armacost, President of the University of North Dakota, a global leader in aviation education, research, and safety. “We are grateful to Senator Hoeven for recognizing the vital connection between mental wellness and aviation safety. His steadfast commitment to this cause sends a powerful message about safety in the aviation industry and reinforces UND’s own efforts to strengthen mental health awareness and support among our students. Since the passing of UND student-pilot John Hauser in 2021, the University has launched several pioneering initiatives for UND aviation students, including the John A. Hauser Mental Health in Aviation Fund, which encourages our student pilots to seek help when facing mental health challenges. John Hauser's legacy along with Senator Hoeven’s leadership, continue to inspire all of us to prioritize the well-being of every member of the aviation community.”

“Pilots and air traffic controllers often operate under immense amounts of stress—pursuing mental health care shouldn’t be a career-ending decision,” Duckworth said. “The fear and hesitancy around reporting mental health conditions and accessing care is hurting our pilots and isn’t making our skies any safer—reforms are critically needed. I’m proud to introduce the Mental Health in Aviation Act with Senator Hoeven, commonsense legislation to help improve aviation safety and reduce bureaucratic delays and overregulation that can create a dangerous culture of silence and stigma around mental health.”

Joining Senators Hoeven and Duckworth in cosponsoring this legislation include Senators Katie Britt (R-AL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Deb Fischer (R-NE), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), John Curtis (R-UT), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Andy Kim (D-NJ).

The Mental Health in Aviation Act is the Senate companion to Representatives Sean Casten (D-IL) and Pete Stauber’s (R-MN) bill, H.R. 2591, which passed the House of Representatives unanimously by voice vote on September 8, 2025.

Full text and a summary of the Mental Health in Aviation Act can be found here and here, respectively.