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 fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To require the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Admin-
istration to revise regulations for certain individuals car-
rying out aviation activities who disclose a mental health 
diagnosis, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Mental Health in Avia-
tion Act of 2024’’. 
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SEC. 2. REGULATIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS CARRYING OUT 
AVIATION ACTIVITIES. 
(a) 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 Regula-
tions, as appropriate, and take any other actions necessary 
to implement the recommendations of the aviation work-
force 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) to disclose conditions or symptoms de-
scribed in paragraph (1). 
(b) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out this section, 
the task group described in subsection (a) shall consult 
with relevant stakeholders from the aviation and medical 
communities, as necessary, including— 
(1) the exclusive bargaining representatives of 
pilots and air traffic controllers certified under sec-
tion 7111 of title 5, United States Code; 
(2) aviation medical examiners, as described in 
section 183.21 of title 14, Code of Federal Regula-
tions; 
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(3) organizations representing the individuals in 
paragraphs (1) and (2); and 
(4) any other stakeholder determined relevant 
by the task group , including any stakeholders de-
scribed in section 411(d)(3)(B) of the FAA Reau-
thorization Act of 2024. 
(c) REPORT REQUIREMENTS.—Section 411(d)(4) of 
the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 (Public Law 118– 
63) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (B) by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(2) in subparagraph (C) by striking the period 
at the end and inserting a semicolon; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(D) an evaluation of any recommenda-
tions reached by the National Transportation 
Safety Board related to aviation workforce men-
tal health; and 
‘‘(E) a description of relevant clinical stud-
ies, research, diagnostic manuals, and protocols 
used by the licensed professionals as of the date 
of enactment of this Act.’’. 
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SEC. 3. ANNUAL REVIEW OF MENTAL HEALTH SPECIAL 
ISSUANCE PROCESS. 
The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Adminis-
tration shall conduct an annual review, and update, as ap-
propriate, the applicable regulations and policies, on men-
tal health-related special issuance for pilots and air traffic 
controllers to— 
(1) reclassify and approve additional medica-
tions that may be safely prescribed to airmen to 
treat mental health conditions; 
(2) if the administrator determines appropriate, 
delegate additional authority to aviation medical ex-
aminers; and 
(3) improve the special issuance process for pi-
lots and air traffic controllers. 
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATION FOR ADDI-
TIONAL AVIATION MEDICAL EXAMINERS. 
There is authorized to be appropriated $13,740,000 
to the Administrator for each of fiscal years 2025 through 
2028 to— 
(1) recruit, select, train, and delegate the nec-
essary authorities to additional aviation medical ex-
aminers and human intervention motivation study 
aviation medical examiners, including those who are 
psychiatrists; 
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(2) review and improve mental health care 
training for aviation medical examiners; 
(3) expand capacity to provide oversight of 
aviation medical examiners and clear the backlog of 
special issuance requests at the Office of Aerospace 
Medicine; and 
(4) support any other related activities, as de-
termined by the Administrator. 
SEC. 5. PUBLIC INFORMATION CAMPAIGN. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated to the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Ad-
ministration $1,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 
through 2028 for a public information campaign or similar 
public education efforts to destigmatize individuals in (or 
interested in joining) the aviation industry who seek men-
tal health care and to broaden awareness of available sup-
portive services. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the Admin-
istrator creates the public information campaign described 
in subsection (a), the Administrator shall submit to appro-
priate committees of Congress a report describing the ac-
tions taken to develop such campaign and the plans for 
implementation. 
SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
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