[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2591 Engrossed in House (EH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2591
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To require the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to
revise regulations for certain individuals carrying out aviation
activities who disclose a mental health diagnosis or condition, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Mental Health in Aviation Act of
2025''.
SEC. 2. REGULATIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS CARRYING OUT AVIATION ACTIVITIES.
(a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration
shall update regulations, including in part 67 of title 14 of Code of
Federal Regulations, as appropriate, to encourage individuals to--
(1) seek help for mental health conditions or symptoms of
mental health conditions; and
(2) disclose conditions or symptoms described in paragraph
(1).
(b) Consultation; Report Requirements.--Section 411(d) of the FAA
Reauthorization Act of 2024 (49 U.S.C. 44703 note(d)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (4)--
(A) in subparagraph (A) by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(B) in subparagraph (B) by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(C) in subparagraph (C) by striking the period at
the end and inserting a semicolon; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
``(D) a review and evaluation of any
recommendations reached by the National Transportation
Safety Board related to aviation workforce mental
health; and
``(E) a description of relevant clinical studies,
research, diagnostic manuals, and protocols used by the
licensed professionals as of the date of enactment of
this Act.''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(5) Consultation.--In carrying out this subsection, the
task group shall consult with relevant stakeholders from the
aviation and medical communities, as necessary, including--
``(A) the certified exclusive bargaining
representatives of air traffic controllers of the
Administration certified under section 7111 of title 5,
United States Code;
``(B) organizations representing certified
collective bargaining representatives of airline
pilots;
``(C) aviation medical examiners, as described in
section 183.21 of title 14, Code of Federal
Regulations; and
``(D) any other stakeholder determined relevant by
the task group, including any stakeholders described in
paragraph (3)(B).''.
(c) Implementation.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the
submission of the report required under section 411(f) of the
FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 (49 U.S.C. 44703 note), the
Administrator shall take such actions as are necessary to
implement the mental health-related recommendations of such
report.
(2) Justification.--If the Administrator decides not to
implement any of the recommendations described in paragraph
(1), the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate
committees of Congress the justification for such decision.
SEC. 3. ANNUAL REVIEW OF MENTAL HEALTH SPECIAL ISSUANCE PROCESS.
The Administrator shall conduct an annual review, and update, as
appropriate, the applicable regulations, policies, orders, and guidance
on mental health-related special issuance for pilots and air traffic
controllers to--
(1) reclassify and approve additional medications that may
be safely prescribed to airmen to treat mental health
conditions;
(2) improve mental health knowledge and training for
aviation medical examiners;
(3) if the Administrator determines appropriate, delegate
additional authority to aviation medical examiners consistent
with the recommendation of the Mental Health Aviation
Rulemaking Committee described in section 5; and
(4) improve the special issuance process for pilots and air
traffic controllers.
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATION FOR ADDITIONAL AVIATION MEDICAL
EXAMINERS.
Of the amounts made available pursuant to section 106(k)(1) of
title 49, United States Code, the Administrator shall set aside
$13,740,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2028 to--
(1) recruit, select, train, and delegate the necessary
authorities to additional aviation medical examiners and human
intervention motivation study aviation medical examiners,
including those who are psychiatrists;
(2) expand capacity to provide oversight of aviation
medical examiners and clear the backlog of special issuance
requests and cases awaiting review at the Office of Aerospace
Medicine; and
(3) support any other related activities, as the
Administrator determines appropriate.
SEC. 5. IMPLEMENTATION OF AVIATION RULEMAKING COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATIONS.
(a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Administrator shall implement, to the greatest extent
practicable, the recommendations of the Mental Health and Aviation
Medical Clearances Aviation Rulemaking Committee which were submitted
to the Administrator on April 1, 2024.
(b) Consultation.--In carrying out subsection (a), the
Administrator shall consult with the parties described in section
411(d)(5) of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 (as added by this
Act).
(c) Justification.--If the Administrator decides not to implement
any of the recommendations described in subsection (a), the
Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress
the justification for such decision.
SEC. 6. PUBLIC INFORMATION CAMPAIGN.
(a) In General.--Of the amounts made available under section
106(k)(1) of title 49, United States Code, the Administrator shall set
aside $1,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2028 for a
public information campaign or similar public education efforts to
destigmatize individuals in (or interested in joining) the aviation
industry who seek mental health care, to broaden awareness of available
supportive services, and establish trust with pilots and air traffic
controllers.
(b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the Administrator creates
the public information campaign described in subsection (a), the
Administrator shall submit to appropriate committees of Congress a
report describing the actions taken to develop such campaign and the
plans for implementation.
SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term
``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(A) the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives; and
(B) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate.
(2) Special issuance.--The term ``special issuance'' has
the meaning given the term in section 67.401 of title 14, Code
of Federal Regulations.
Passed the House of Representatives September 8, 2025.
Attest:
Clerk.
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2591
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To require the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to
revise regulations for certain individuals carrying out aviation
activities who disclose a mental health diagnosis or condition, and for
other purposes.