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Medication Bills Pass the Senate

Medication Bills Pass the Senate

September 25, 2026

Yesterday, the Senate passed two significant bipartisan aviation safety measures: the Mental Health in Aviation Act (S.3257) and the Aviation Medication Transparency Act (S. 3258) — important steps toward modernizing the FAA’s approach to mental health, medication use, and aeromedical certification.

SWAPA thanks Senators John Hoeven (R-ND) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) for introducing these bipartisan bills, along with Leader Thune, Minority Leader Schumer, Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-WA) for their leadership in advancing these critical reforms.

The Mental Health in Aviation Act modernizes FAA policies to encourage voluntary disclosure of mental health conditions and treatment without creating unnecessary barriers to medical certification. The legislation requires annual reviews of the special issuance process and provides resources to recruit and train additional Aviation Medical Examiners, including psychiatrists — helping address certification delays while removing barriers to care.

Passage of the Aviation Medication Transparency Act directs the FAA to provide pilots and air traffic controllers with clear, comprehensive guidance identifying acceptable medications, required wait times, and medications designated “Do Not Issue.” Aviation professionals should be able to make informed healthcare decisions based on clear and readily available FAA guidance without unnecessary confusion or delays.

Together, these bills represent meaningful progress toward an aeromedical system that encourages pilots and controllers to seek care, provides greater transparency and certainty, and maintains aviation safety as its highest priority. For too long, uncertainty surrounding mental health treatment and medication use has created unnecessary barriers for aviation professionals seeking care. These bipartisan reforms replace that uncertainty with greater clarity, consistency, and confidence in the FAA medical certification process.

SWAPA applauds the Senate for taking this important step and urges swift action to ensure these reforms become law. A safer aviation system is one in which pilots and controllers can seek the care they need while maintaining the rigorous medical standards necessary to protect the traveling public.

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