The US Senate has passed two bipartisan bills aimed at improving mental health access and medication guidance for pilots and air traffic controllers, sending the measures to the House. The John A. Hauser Mental Health in Aviation Act and the Aviation Medication Transparency Act both passed by unanimous consent in Washington, with Senators John Hoeven and Tammy Duckworth sponsoring the legislation.
The mental health bill would require the Federal Aviation Administration to update rules and guidance for aviation workers who disclose a diagnosis, while also expanding examiner training, public education and periodic reviews of the special issuance process. It would authorise up to $15 million a year for fiscal 2026 through 2028 to support implementation. The medication bill directs the FAA to publish plain-language guidance on approved medications within a year and update it annually.
The measures are intended to reduce stigma and make it easier for pilots and controllers to seek treatment without fear of career damage, while also easing uncertainty over FAA medical certification. Final enactment still depends on House approval before the FAA can begin any rulemaking or guidance changes.