S. 3257 — John A. Hauser Mental Health in Aviation Act

This section defines terms used in the Act, including the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, the appropriate congressional committees, the FAA, and special issuance medical certificates under 14 C.F.R. § 67.401.

This section requires the FAA Administrator, within 18 months of enactment, to update mental health regulations in 14 CFR part 67 and issue guidance encouraging pilots and other aviation personnel to seek treatment for mental health conditions and to disclose symptoms. It expands the groups from which the mental health task group must solicit feedback to include air carrier, general aviation, air traffic controller, pilot union, and flight training representatives. It adds requirements that task group reports review NTSB recommendations on aviation workforce mental health and describe the clinical studies and diagnostic materials used. It authorizes the Administrator to implement task group recommendations within 180 days and requires congressional justification within 90 days for any recommendation not implemented.

This section requires the FAA Administrator to review the mental health special issuance process for pilots and air traffic controllers, beginning 180 days after submission of the first report under section 411(f) of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 and annually for the first 2 years thereafter and triennially after that. It directs updates to regulations, policies, orders, and guidance to consider reclassifying additional medications and evidence-based treatments, provide enhanced mental health training for aviation medical examiners, expand examiner authority to issue certificates after such training, and improve the overall special issuance process.

This section provides up to $15 million annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2028 to the FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine to recruit, select, and train additional aviation medical examiners, including psychiatrists; expand oversight capacity and clear the backlog of special issuance requests; deliver enhanced mental health training to examiners; and support related activities.

This section directs the Federal Aviation Administration Administrator to implement the recommendations of the Mental Health & Aviation Medical Clearances Aviation Rulemaking Committee, submitted April 1, 2024, within 2 years of enactment. The Administrator must consult with designated stakeholders, validate recommendation 6 using clinical studies and diagnostic protocols (commissioning any needed studies to fill data gaps within 1 year of enactment), and submit justifications to Congress for any unimplemented recommendations within 90 days after the deadline.

This section requires the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to carry out a public information campaign for fiscal years 2026 through 2028 to destigmatize mental health care for aviation workers, broaden awareness of supportive services, and improve trust with pilots and air traffic controllers. It mandates online publication and posting of related information at Aviation Medical Examiner offices, collaboration with air carriers, flight training institutions, and hub airports, a congressional briefing within 90 days of establishment, and a report within 2 years of implementation describing engagement and stakeholder feedback.