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Bill
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H.R. 2591 — what changed

Mental Health in Aviation Act of 2025

From Introduced in House to Reported in House. 5 sections amended between Introduced in House and Reported in House.

Sec. 2 Regulations for individuals carrying out aviation activities

(a)
changed 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, and take any other actions necessary to implement the recommendations of the aviation workforce mental health task group established under section 411(d) the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 to encourage individuals to—
(1)
seek help for mental health conditions or symptoms of mental health conditions; and
(2)
changed to disclose conditions or symptoms described in paragraph (1).
(b)
changed Consultation—Consultation; report requirements— In carrying out this section, the task group described in subsection (a) shall consult with relevant stakeholders from Section 411(d) of the aviation and medical communities, as necessary, including—FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 (49 U.S.C. 44703 note(d)) is amended—
(1)
changed the certified exclusive bargaining representatives of air traffic controllers of the Administration certified under section 7111 of title 5, United States Code;in paragraph (4)—
(A)
added in subparagraph (A) by striking “and” at the end;
(2)
removed the principal organization representing the largest certified collective bargaining representative of airline pilots;
(3)
removed aviation medical examiners, as described in section 183.21 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations; and
(4)
removed any other stakeholder determined relevant by the task group, including any stakeholders described in section 411(d)(3)(B) of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024.
(c)
removed Report requirements— Section 411(d)(4) of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 (Public Law 118–63) is amended—
(B)
renumbered was (4)(3) in subparagraph (B) by striking “and” at the end;
(C)
renumbered was (4)(4) in subparagraph (C) by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and
(D)
renumbered was (4)(5) 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.”

(2)
added by adding at the end the following:

added “(5) Consultation—In carrying out this subsection, the task group shall consult with relevant stakeholders from the aviation and medical communities, as necessary, including—

added “(A) the certified exclusive bargaining representatives of air traffic controllers of the Administration certified under section 7111 of title 5, United States Code;

added “(B) organizations representing certified collective bargaining representatives of airline pilots;

added “(C) aviation medical examiners, as described in section 183.21 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations; and

added “(D) any other stakeholder determined relevant by the task group, including any stakeholders described in paragraph (3)(B).”

(c)
added Implementation—
(1)
added 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)
added 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

changed The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall conduct an annual review, and update, as appropriate, the applicable regulations and 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

changed There is authorized to be appropriated $13,740,000 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 2029 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)
changed support any other related activities, as determined by the Administrator.Administrator determines appropriate.

Sec. 5 Implementation of aviation rulemaking committee recommendations

(a)
changed In general— Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall implement 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)
changed Consultation— Subject to section 2, In carrying out subsection (a), the Administrator shall consult with parties in the implementation parties described in subsection (a).section 411(d)(5) of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 (as added by this Act).
(c)
added 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)
changed In general— There are authorized to be appropriated to Of the Administrator amounts made available under section 106(k)(1) of title 49, United States Code, the Federal Aviation Administration Administrator shall set aside $1,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2029 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.