Hoeven, Duckworth: Senate Passes John A. Hauser Mental Health in Aviation Act

WASHINGTON – Senators John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) today issued the following statements after the U.S. Senate approved the John A. Hauser Mental Health in Aviation Act, bipartisan legislation they introduced to modernize the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) approach to mental health and medical certification. The bill, which honors John A. Hauser, a University of North Dakota (UND) aviation student from Chicago, Ill., who tragically took his own life in an aircraft in October 2021, would: Improve aviation safety by encouraging both pilots and air traffic controllers to seek mental health care, when needed. Alleviate the stigma associated with mental health. Reduce the potential impact on a pilot’s career when receiving care. “Our nation faces a severe shortage of qualified pilots and air traffic controllers, while bureaucratic delays and outdated processes at the FAA keep these professionals from working for prolonged periods when they seek mental health care.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.” “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.” “We know the John A. Hauser Mental Health in Aviation Act will help many pilots and air traffic controllers more easily seek care for their mental health and are proud and humbled that it now bears our son John’s name. We know that John would be very pleased that this bill and the AMTA will help other pilots seek care and reduce barriers to getting the care they need and deserve. We are extremely grateful for the work Senators John Hoeven and Tammy Duckworth and Representative Sean Casten have done to write and support both bills through Congress. This bipartisan effort will lead to meaningful change in aviation,” said Anne Suh and Alan Hauser, the parents of John A. Hauser. John A. Hauser Mental Health in Aviation Act The John A. Hauser Mental Health in Aviation Act bill builds upon efforts taken by the Hauser Family and UND, including the establishment of the John A. Hauser Mental Health in Aviation Initiative Fund , the UpLift Peer Support program, which offers mental health support for aviation students from their own peers, and the North Dakota Center for Aerospace Medicine . Hoeven’s legislation 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, while also requiring a regular review of the FAA’s Mental Health Special Issuance Process. Provide funding to train additional medical examiners, including specialists, to improve the efficiency of the FAA’s Special Issuance Medical Certification process. Undertake a public information campaign to help reduce the stigma around mental health care in aviation and encourage aviation professionals to seek mental health care. The full text and a summary of Hoeven’s legislation can be found here and here , respectively. Aviation Medication Transparency Act Concurrently, the Senate passed Senator Duckworth’s Aviation Medication Transparency Act, legislation Hoeven is co-leading that requires the FAA to issue accessible, user-friendly guidance on medications that are safe for individuals in positions requiring an FAA Medical Certificate, including pilots, air traffic controllers and other aviation professionals. The FAA currently provides Aviation Medical Examiners (AME) with specific guidance on medications that are safe for individuals holding an FAA medical certificate to take – but this information is not easily accessible to aviation professionals. As a result, pilots and air traffic controllers with medical certifications may unknowingly take medications that could 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. The full text of the legislation can be found here . -###-