Duckworth-Hoeven Bipartisan Bills to Support the Health of Our Aviation Workforce and Strengthen Aviation Safety Pass the Senate

Duckworth-Hoeven Bipartisan Bills to Support the Health of Our Aviation Workforce and Strengthen Aviation Safety Pass the Senate

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Two bipartisan pieces of legislation led by 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) to support the health of our aviation workforce and strengthen aviation safety today passed the Senate with unanimous consent. 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 put their careers in jeopardy.

"Our aviation system depends on the well-being of our pilots and air traffic controllers, who operate under an immense amount of stress. Their careers should never be threatened because they weren't properly informed about which medications they're allowed to take, or simply sought the mental health care they need," said Duckworth. "These two bipartisan, commonsense bills will 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. Now that they've passed the Senate with unanimous consent, the House must do the same so we can address bureaucratic shortcomings within the FAA, dismantle the dangerous culture of silence surrounding mental health in the aviation industry and ultimately make our skies safer."

Additionally, Hoeven's John A. Hauser 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 air traffic controllers (ATC) that lead to safer skies.

"Our nation faces a severe shortage of qualified pilots and air traffic controllers, while bureaucratic delays and outdated processes at the FAA keep these professionals from working for prolonged periods when they seek mental health care. Our Mental Health in Aviation Act would provide much-needed updates to the FAA's Medical Certificate process to help ensure pilots and air traffic controllers can get the care they need without undue repercussions to their careers," said Hoeven. "I appreciate Senator Duckworth for partnering with me on both this legislation and her Aviation Medication Transparency Act, which will provide more certainty regarding which medications are approved by the FAA for aviation professionals. Together, our bills will make a real difference for the well-being of pilots and controllers."

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:

1. Publish within one year of enactment-and keep up-to-update-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.
2. Indicate what, if any, period of time individuals holding an FAA medical certificate must have limited or no duties while taking this medication.
3. Indicate a list of medications the FAA has designated as "Do Not Issue" and "Do Not Fly."
4. 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), Katie Britt (R-AL), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), James Risch (R-ID), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jack Reed (D-RI), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mark Warner (D-VA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chris Coons (D-DE) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).

This legislation is also endorsed by the Airlines for America, Air Line Pilots Association, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, National Air Traffic Controllers Association, National Business Aviation Association, National Flight Training Alliance, NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots, Pilot Menal Health Campaign, Southwest Airlines Pilots Association and United Aerial Firefighters 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 John A. Hauser Mental Health in Aviation Act would require the FAA to:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Authorize $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.
4. Authorize $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 John A. Hauser 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), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Andy Kim (D-NJ), James Risch (R-ID), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Bernie Moreno (R-OH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), John Kennedy (R-LA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Chris Coons (D-DE), Steve Daines (R-MT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).

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.

Full text 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.

Duckworth helped author the landmark bipartisan FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 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.

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