[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 152 (Thursday, September 24, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5017-S5019]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
JOHN A. HAUSER MENTAL HEALTH IN AVIATION ACT
Mr. HUSTED. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 558, S. 3257.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
A bill (S. 3257) 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.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill,
which had been reported from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation with an amendment to strike all after the enacting
clause and insert the part printed in italic, as follows:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``John A. Hauser Mental Health
in Aviation Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.
(2) 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.
(3) FAA.--The term ``FAA'' means the Federal Aviation
Administration.
(4) Special issuance.--The term ``special issuance'' has
the meaning given such term in section 67.401 of title 14,
Code of Federal Regulations.
SEC. 3. REGULATIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS CARRYING OUT AVIATION
ACTIVITIES.
(a) In General.--Not later than 18 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall update
regulations, including in part 67 of title 14, Code of
Federal Regulations, and issue relevant guidance as
appropriate to encourage individuals to--
(1) seek help for mental health conditions or symptoms of
mental health conditions; and
(2) to disclose conditions or symptoms described in
paragraph (1).
(b) Solicit Feedback; Report Requirements.--Section 411(d)
of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 (49 U.S.C. 44703 note)
is amended--
(1) in paragraph (3), by striking subparagraph (B) and
inserting the following:
``(B) soliciting feedback from aviation industry
professionals or other licensed professionals representing
air carrier operations under part 121 and part 135 of title
14, Code of Federal Regulations, and general aviation
operations under part 91 of title 14, Code of Federal
Regulations, the exclusive bargaining representatives of air
traffic controllers of the FAA certified under section 7111
of title 5, United States Code, organizations representing
collective bargaining representatives of airline pilots,
institutions of higher education that are accredited by the
Aviation Accreditation Board International, and professional
pilot flight training schools certificated under part 141 of
title 14, Code of Federal Regulations;''; and
(2) in paragraph (4)--
(A) in subparagraphs (A) and (B), by striking ``and'' at
the end;
(B) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end
and inserting a semicolon; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:
``(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 relied upon by the task
group in developing their recommendations.''.
(c) Implementation.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, and for any report issued thereafter,
not later than 180 days after the submission of each report
required under section 411(f) of the FAA Reauthorization Act
of 2024 (49 U.S.C. 44703 note), the Administrator may take
action, as appropriate, to implement the recommendations of
such report.
(2) Justification.--In the event that the Administrator
decides not to implement a recommendation described in
paragraph (1), the Administrator shall submit to the
appropriate committees of Congress the justification for such
decision not later than 90 days after receiving the report
containing such recommendation.
SEC. 4. REVIEW OF MENTAL HEALTH SPECIAL ISSUANCE PROCESS.
Beginning on the date that is 180 days after the
Administrator submits the first report pursuant to section
411(f) of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 (49 U.S.C.
44703 note), and annually for the 1st 2 years thereafter, and
triennially thereafter, the Administrator shall conduct a
review of the special issuance process, 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) consider the reclassification of additional medications
and evidence-based treatments that may be safely prescribed
to treat mental health conditions;
(2) provide enhanced mental health knowledge and training
for aviation medical examiners, consistent with the
recommendations of the Mental Health & Aviation Medical
Clearances Aviation Rulemaking Committee described in section
6;
(3) if the Administrator determines appropriate, consider
expanding opportunities in which an aviation medical examiner
may issue a certificate consistent with the recommendations
of the Mental Health & Aviation Medical Clearances Aviation
Rulemaking Committee described in section 6, provided that
such examiner has completed enhanced mental health training,
as described in paragraph (2), to ensure such personnel have
the requisite knowledge and ability to appropriately evaluate
individuals for FAA medical certification; and
(4) improve the special issuance process for pilots and air
traffic controllers.
SEC. 5. IMPROVING CAPACITY FOR THE OFFICE OF AEROSPACE
MEDICINE.
Of the amounts made available pursuant to section 106(k)(1)
of title 49, United States Code, the Administrator shall
designate not more than $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years
2026 through 2028 to--
(1) recruit, select, and train 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 of the FAA;
(3) provide enhanced mental health training to aviation
medical examiners to ensure such personnel have requisite
knowledge and the ability to appropriately evaluate
individuals for FAA medical certification; and
(4) support any other related activities, as determined
appropriate by the Administrator.
SEC. 6. 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, as
appropriate, the recommendations of the Mental Health &
Aviation Medical Clearances Aviation Rulemaking Committee,
which were submitted to the Administrator on April 1, 2024
(in this section referred to as the ``ARC'').
(b) Consultation.--In carrying out subsection (a), the
Administrator shall consult with
[[Page S5018]]
the stakeholders described in section 411(d)(3)(B) of the FAA
Reauthorization Act of 2024 (as amended by this Act).
(c) Validation.--With respect to recommendation 6 of the
ARC, the Administrator shall leverage and cite relevant
clinical studies, research, diagnostic manuals, and protocols
to inform the recommendation, as determined by the
Administrator. The Administrator may, as appropriate,
commission any such studies that may be needed to fill data
gaps. Any such studies shall document the data gap and be
completed not later than 1 year after the enactment of this
Act.
(d) Justification.--If the Administrator decides not to
implement a recommendation described in the ARC, the
Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of
Congress their justification for such decision not later than
90 days after the deadline described in such subsection.
SEC. 7. PUBLIC INFORMATION CAMPAIGN.
(a) In General.--For fiscal years 2026 through 2028, the
Administrator shall carry out a public information campaign
or similar public education efforts to--
(1) destigmatize individuals in (or interested in joining)
the aviation industry who seek mental health care;
(2) broaden awareness of available supportive services; and
(3) improve trust between the FAA and pilots and air
traffic controllers.
(b) Requirements.--The public information campaign or
similar public education efforts described in subsection (a)
shall include--
(1) making publicly available (in an easily accessible
format and location online)--
(A) information that would help destigmatize the reporting
of mental health concerns impacting the aviation workforce,
and encourage individuals to seek help for such concerns; and
(B) other information to effectuate the outcomes described
in subsection (a);
(2) posting the information described in paragraph (1) at
Aviation Medical Examiner offices; and
(3) collaborating with air carriers (as defined in section
40102 of title 49, United States Code), flight training
institutions and entities (as described in parts 61 and 141
of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations), and small, medium,
and large hub airports (as defined in such section 40102) to
encourage such entities to make such information easily
accessible to airmen and air traffic controllers.
(c) Briefing and Report to Congress.--
(1) Briefing.--Not later than 90 days after the
Administrator establishes the public information campaign
described in subsection (a), the Administrator shall brief
the appropriate committees of Congress on the actions taken
to develop the campaign and the plans to implement the
campaign.
(2) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the Administrator
implements the public information campaign, the Administrator
shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a
report describing the engagement and outreach resulting from
such campaign, including a description of any applicable
feedback from aviation industry stakeholders on the efficacy
of the campaign.
Mr. HUSTED. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the
committee-reported substitute amendment be withdrawn and the Hoeven
substitute amendment at the desk be agreed to; that the bill, as
amended, be considered read a third time and passed; and that the
motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The committee-reported amendment, in the nature of a substitute, was
withdrawn.
The amendment (No. 6834), in the nature of a substitute, was agreed
to, as follows:
(Purpose: In the nature of a substitute.)
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``John A. Hauser Mental Health
in Aviation Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.
(2) 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.
(3) FAA.--The term ``FAA'' means the Federal Aviation
Administration.
(4) Special issuance.--The term ``special issuance'' has
the meaning given such term in section 67.401 of title 14,
Code of Federal Regulations.
SEC. 3. REGULATIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS CARRYING OUT AVIATION
ACTIVITIES.
(a) In General.--Not later than 18 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall update
regulations, including in part 67 of title 14, Code of
Federal Regulations, and issue relevant guidance 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) Solicit Feedback; Report Requirements.--Section 411(d)
of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 (49 U.S.C. 44703 note)
is amended--
(1) in paragraph (3), by striking subparagraph (B) and
inserting the following:
``(B) soliciting feedback from aviation industry
professionals or other licensed professionals representing
air carrier operations under part 121 and part 135 of title
14, Code of Federal Regulations, and general aviation
operations under part 91 of title 14, Code of Federal
Regulations, the exclusive bargaining representatives of air
traffic controllers of the FAA certified under section 7111
of title 5, United States Code, organizations representing
collective bargaining representatives of airline pilots,
institutions of higher education that are accredited by the
Aviation Accreditation Board International, and professional
pilot flight training schools certificated under part 141 of
title 14, Code of Federal Regulations;''; and
(2) in paragraph (4)--
(A) in subparagraphs (A) and (B), by striking ``and'' at
the end;
(B) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end
and inserting a semicolon; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:
``(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 relied upon by the task
group in developing their recommendations.''.
(c) Implementation.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, and for any report issued thereafter,
not later than 180 days after the submission of each report
required under section 411(f) of the FAA Reauthorization Act
of 2024 (49 U.S.C. 44703 note), the Administrator may take
action, as appropriate, to implement the recommendations of
such report.
(2) Justification.--In the event that the Administrator
decides not to implement a recommendation described in
paragraph (1), the Administrator shall submit to the
appropriate committees of Congress the justification for such
decision not later than 90 days after receiving the report
containing such recommendation.
SEC. 4. REVIEW OF MENTAL HEALTH SPECIAL ISSUANCE PROCESS.
Beginning on the date that is 180 days after the
Administrator submits the first report pursuant to section
411(f) of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 (49 U.S.C.
44703 note), and annually for the 1st 2 years thereafter, and
triennially thereafter, the Administrator shall conduct a
review of the special issuance process, 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) consider the reclassification of additional medications
and evidence-based treatments that may be safely prescribed
to treat mental health conditions;
(2) provide enhanced mental health knowledge and training
for aviation medical examiners, consistent with the
recommendations of the Mental Health & Aviation Medical
Clearances Aviation Rulemaking Committee described in section
6;
(3) if the Administrator determines appropriate, consider
expanding opportunities in which an aviation medical examiner
may issue a certificate consistent with the recommendations
of the Mental Health & Aviation Medical Clearances Aviation
Rulemaking Committee described in section 6, provided that
such examiner has completed enhanced mental health training,
as described in paragraph (2), to ensure such personnel have
the requisite knowledge and ability to appropriately evaluate
individuals for FAA medical certification; and
(4) improve the special issuance process for pilots and air
traffic controllers.
SEC. 5. IMPROVING CAPACITY FOR THE OFFICE OF AEROSPACE
MEDICINE.
Section 106(k)(2) of title 49, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(E) Not more than $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years
2026 through 2028 to--
``(i) recruit, select, and train additional aviation
medical examiners and human intervention motivation study
aviation medical examiners, including those who are
psychiatrists;
``(ii) 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 of the FAA;
``(iii) provide enhanced mental health training to aviation
medical examiners to ensure such personnel have requisite
knowledge and the ability to appropriately evaluate
individuals for FAA medical certification; and
``(iv) support any other related activities, as determined
appropriate by the Administrator.''.
SEC. 6. 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, as
appropriate, the recommendations of the Mental Health &
Aviation Medical Clearances Aviation Rulemaking Committee,
which were submitted to the Administrator on April 1,
[[Page S5019]]
2024 (in this section referred to as the ``ARC'').
(b) Consultation.--In carrying out subsection (a), the
Administrator shall consult with the stakeholders described
in section 411(d)(3)(B) of the FAA Reauthorization Act of
2024 (as amended by this Act).
(c) Validation.--With respect to recommendation 6 of the
ARC, the Administrator shall leverage and cite relevant
clinical studies, research, diagnostic manuals, and protocols
to inform the recommendation, as determined by the
Administrator. The Administrator may, as appropriate,
commission any such studies that may be needed to fill data
gaps. Any such studies shall document the data gap and be
completed not later than 1 year after the enactment of this
Act.
(d) Justification.--If the Administrator decides not to
implement a recommendation described in the ARC, the
Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of
Congress their justification for such decision not later than
90 days after the deadline described in such subsection.
SEC. 7. PUBLIC INFORMATION CAMPAIGN.
(a) In General.--For fiscal years 2026 through 2028, the
Administrator shall carry out a public information campaign
or similar public education efforts to--
(1) destigmatize individuals in (or interested in joining)
the aviation industry who seek mental health care;
(2) broaden awareness of available supportive services; and
(3) improve trust between the FAA and pilots and air
traffic controllers.
(b) Requirements.--The public information campaign or
similar public education efforts described in subsection (a)
shall include--
(1) making publicly available (in an easily accessible
format and location online)--
(A) information that would help destigmatize the reporting
of mental health concerns impacting the aviation workforce,
and encourage individuals to seek help for such concerns; and
(B) other information to effectuate the outcomes described
in subsection (a);
(2) posting the information described in paragraph (1) at
Aviation Medical Examiner offices; and
(3) collaborating with air carriers (as defined in section
40102 of title 49, United States Code), flight training
institutions and entities (as described in parts 61 and 141
of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations), and small, medium,
and large hub airports (as defined in such section 40102) to
encourage such entities to make such information easily
accessible to airmen and air traffic controllers.
(c) Briefing and Report to Congress.--
(1) Briefing.--Not later than 90 days after the
Administrator establishes the public information campaign
described in subsection (a), the Administrator shall brief
the appropriate committees of Congress on the actions taken
to develop the campaign and the plans to implement the
campaign.
(2) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the Administrator
implements the public information campaign, the Administrator
shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a
report describing the engagement and outreach resulting from
such campaign, including a description of any applicable
feedback from aviation industry stakeholders on the efficacy
of the campaign.
The bill (S. 3257), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a
third reading, was read the third time, and passed.
____________________