Duckworth, Hoeven Introduce Two Bipartisan Bills to Strengthen Aviation Safety and Support Commercial Pilots and Air Traffic Controllers

Duckworth, Hoeven Introduce Two Bipartisan Bills to Strengthen Aviation Safety and Support Commercial Pilots and Air Traffic Controllers

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)-a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) and Ranking Member of the Aviation Subcommittee-and U.S. Senator John Hoeven (R-ND) introduced two bipartisan bills aimed to help strengthen aviation safety and support our aviation workforce by fostering transparency surrounding medication guidelines, improving access to mental health care and protecting job security for our nation's commercial pilots and air traffic controllers (ATC). Senator Duckworth's Aviation Medication Transparency Act, co-led by Senator Hoeven, would require the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to issue accessible, user-friendly guidance on medications that are safe for individuals holding, applying for or training for a position that requires an FAA medical certificate-helping ensure these individuals don't unknowingly take medications that could jeopardize their careers. Senator Hoeven's Mental Health in Aviation Act, co-led by Senator Duckworth, would require the FAA to modernize and strengthen access to mental health care-removing barriers to timely treatment, promoting early intervention and supporting the well-being of our pilots and ATCs that lead to safer skies.

"Our aviation system depends on the well-being of our pilots and air traffic controllers, who operate under an immense amount of stress-and their careers should never be threatened because they weren't properly informed about which medications they're allowed to take or dared to seek the mental health care they need," said Duckworth. "These two bipartisan, commonsense bills would help make it easier for those in our aviation workforce to take care of themselves without fearing for their job security-while also sending this important message to future recruits. Congress must continue to show our pilots and air traffic controllers that we are invested in them by passing our bills to reform bureaucratic shortcomings within the FAA, dismantle the dangerous culture of silence surrounding mental health in the aviation industry and ultimately make our skies safer."

"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. "Both the Mental Health in Aviation Act and Aviation Medication Transparency Act seek to address mental health issues throughout the aviation industry, promote early intervention, increase transparency, 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."

The FAA currently provides Aviation Medical Examiners with specific guidance on medications that are safe for individuals holding an FAA medical certificate to take-but confoundingly, this crucial information is not easily accessible to pilots, ATCs and other aviation professionals. As a result, pilots and ATCs with medical certifications may unknowingly take medications that could potentially jeopardize their careers. To help make this information more accessible, the Aviation Medication Transparency Act would require the FAA to:

• Publish within one year of enactment-and update annually-a comprehensive, user-friendly and accessible list of medications that are safe for pilots, air traffic control specialists and trainees, developed in consultation with various stakeholders.
• Indicate what, if any, period of time individuals holding an FAA medical certificate must have limited or no duties while taking this medication.
• Indicate a list of medications the FAA has designated as "Do Not Issue."
• Provide information for doctors to contact the FAA should they have any questions.

In addition to Duckworth and Hoeven, the Aviation Medication Transparency Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Katie Britt (R-AL).

This legislation is also endorsed by the Pilot Mental Health Campaign, Airlines for America, National Air Traffic Controllers Association, National Business Aviation Association, National Flight Training Alliance, United Aerial Firefighters Association and Southwest Airlines Pilots Association.

Additionally, under current FAA regulations, pilots and ATCs must acquire and maintain an FAA medical certificate, which requires the disclosure of any medical treatments-including for mental health. Once disclosed, they can face extended bureaucratic delays during the lengthy process they must undergo to receive their medical certification and be deemed safe to perform their jobs. As a result, there is a stigma against seeking mental health care which discourages pilots and ATCs from getting the care they need and deserve for their uniquely demanding professions. To encourage pilots and ATCs to seek care early and improve aviation safety, the Mental Health in Aviation Act 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.

In addition to Hoeven and Duckworth, the Mental Health in Aviation Act is cosponsored by U.S. 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) and Jack Reed (D-RI).

This legislation is also endorsed by Airlines for America, Regional Airline Association, the Air Line Pilots Association, National Air Traffic Controllers Association, National Business Aviation Association, Association of Air Medical Services, National Flight Training Alliance, NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots, Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, Allied Pilots Association, Coalition of Airline Pilots and Pilots Mental Health Campaign.

Bill text copies of the Aviation Medication Transparency Act and the Mental Health in Aviation Act are available on Senator Duckworth's website.

Duckworth has long been a leading voice in the push to make our skies safer. For years, she has been sounding the alarm that we must make critical aviation safety investments immediately to prevent all-too-often near-misses from becoming catastrophic tragedies. Last Congress, Duckworth chaired two CST Aviation Subcommittee hearings-one last December and the other a year prior-to address our aviation industry's chilling surge in near-deadly close calls and underscore the urgent need to improve air traffic control systems to protect the flying public.

Last year, Duckworth helped author the landmark bipartisan FAA reauthorization that was signed into law to extend the FAA's funding and authorities through Fiscal Year 2028. The reauthorization included several of her provisions to safeguard the 1,500-hour rule, improve consumer safety, expand the aviation workforce and enhance protections for travelers with disabilities.

-30-