I 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 9687 

To require the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to revise 

regulations for certain individuals carrying out aviation activities who 

disclose a mental health diagnosis, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 19, 2024 

Mr. CASTEN (for himself and Mrs. CHAVEZ-DEREMER) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and 

Infrastructure 

A BILL 

To require the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to revise regulations for certain individuals carrying out aviation activities who disclose a mental health 

diagnosis, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Mental Health in Avia5 tion Act of 2024’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. REGULATIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS CARRYING OUT 

2 AVIATION ACTIVITIES. 

3 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after the 

4 date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the 

5 Federal Aviation Administration shall update regulations, 

6 including in part 67 of title 14 of Code of Federal Regula7 tions, as appropriate, and take any other actions necessary 

8 to implement the recommendations of the aviation work9 force mental health task group established under section 

10 411(d) the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 to encourage 

11 individuals to— 

12 (1) seek help for mental health conditions or 

13 symptoms of mental health conditions; and 

14 (2) to disclose conditions or symptoms de15 scribed in paragraph (1). 

16 (b) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out this section, 

17 the task group described in subsection (a) shall consult 

18 with relevant stakeholders from the aviation and medical 

19 communities, as necessary, including— 

20 (1) the exclusive bargaining representatives of 

21 pilots and air traffic controllers certified under sec22 tion 7111 of title 5, United States Code; 

23 (2) aviation medical examiners, as described in 

24 section 183.21 of title 14, Code of Federal Regula25 tions; 


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1 (3) organizations representing the individuals in 

2 paragraphs (1) and (2); and 

3 (4) any other stakeholder determined relevant 

4 by the task group , including any stakeholders de5 scribed in section 411(d)(3)(B) of the FAA Reau6 thorization Act of 2024. 

7 (c) REPORT REQUIREMENTS.—Section 411(d)(4) of 

8 the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 (Public Law 118– 

9 63) is amended— 

10 (1) in subparagraph (B) by striking ‘‘and’’ at 

11 the end; 

12 (2) in subparagraph (C) by striking the period 

13 at the end and inserting a semicolon; and 

14 (3) by adding at the end the following: 

15 ‘‘(D) an evaluation of any recommenda16 tions reached by the National Transportation 

17 Safety Board related to aviation workforce men18 tal health; and 

19 ‘‘(E) a description of relevant clinical stud20 ies, research, diagnostic manuals, and protocols 

21 used by the licensed professionals as of the date 

22 of enactment of this Act.’’. 


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1 SEC. 3. ANNUAL REVIEW OF MENTAL HEALTH SPECIAL 

2 ISSUANCE PROCESS. 

3 The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Adminis4 tration shall conduct an annual review, and update, as ap5 propriate, the applicable regulations and policies, on men6 tal health-related special issuance for pilots and air traffic 

7 controllers to— 

8 (1) reclassify and approve additional medica9 tions that may be safely prescribed to airmen to 

10 treat mental health conditions; 

11 (2) if the administrator determines appropriate, 

12 delegate additional authority to aviation medical ex13 aminers; and 

14 (3) improve the special issuance process for pi15 lots and air traffic controllers. 

16 SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATION FOR ADDI17 TIONAL AVIATION MEDICAL EXAMINERS. 

18 There is authorized to be appropriated $13,740,000 

19 to the Administrator for each of fiscal years 2025 through 

20 2028 to— 

21 (1) recruit, select, train, and delegate the nec22 essary authorities to additional aviation medical ex23 aminers and human intervention motivation study 

24 aviation medical examiners, including those who are 

25 psychiatrists; 


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1 (2) review and improve mental health care 

2 training for aviation medical examiners; 

3 (3) expand capacity to provide oversight of 

4 aviation medical examiners and clear the backlog of 

5 special issuance requests at the Office of Aerospace 

6 Medicine; and 

7 (4) support any other related activities, as de8 termined by the Administrator. 

9 SEC. 5. PUBLIC INFORMATION CAMPAIGN. 

10 (a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appro11 priated to the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Ad12 ministration $1,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 

13 through 2028 for a public information campaign or similar 

14 public education efforts to destigmatize individuals in (or 

15 interested in joining) the aviation industry who seek men16 tal health care and to broaden awareness of available sup17 portive services. 

18 (b) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the Admin19 istrator creates the public information campaign described 

20 in subsection (a), the Administrator shall submit to appro21 priate committees of Congress a report describing the ac22 tions taken to develop such campaign and the plans for 

23 implementation. 

24 SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS. 

25 In this Act: 


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1 (1) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CON2 GRESS.—The term ‘‘appropriate committees of Con3 gress’’ means— 

4 (A) the Committee on Transportation and 

5 Infrastructure of the House of Representatives; 

6 and 

7 (B) the Committee on Commerce, Science, 

8 and Transportation of the Senate. 

9 (2) SPECIAL ISSUANCE.—The term ‘‘special 

10 issuance’’ has the meaning given the term in section 

11 67.401 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations. 

Æ 


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