introduced by Stauber, a Republican from Hermantown, and U.S. Rep. Sean Casten, D-Ill., passed the chamber in a voice vote Monday.<\/p>\n
In a joint news release, the lawmakers said the bill is designed to make it easier for pilots and air traffic controllers to seek mental health care without fear of harsh penalties.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately, current Federal Aviation Administration regulations prevent aviation professionals from seeking mental health care by imposing unfair penalties on those who do,\u201d Stauber said in the news release. \u201cThis creates a dangerous culture of silence and stigma. The Mental Health in Aviation Act will break down these barriers and support the mental health of our aviation workforce.\u201d<\/p>\n
Casten is the bill\u2019s sponsor, while Stauber is its first cosponsor.<\/p>\n
The bill would require the FAA to revise its regulations on voluntary mental health disclosures and treatment and implement the agency\u2019s <\/p>\n
recommendations<\/a><\/p>\n on mental health within two years.<\/p>\n From 2026 to 2028, the bill would put $13.7 million annually toward recruiting and training additional aviation medical examiners, including psychiatrists, and $1.5 million for \u201ca public information campaign or similar public education efforts to destigmatize individuals in (or interested in joining) the aviation industry who seek mental health care, to broaden awareness of available supportive services, and establish trust with pilots and air traffic controllers,\u201d according to the bill text.<\/p>\n \u201cAviators should not be unfairly penalized for seeking mental health care,\u201d Casten said in the news release. \u201cThe current system perpetuates a culture of silence, and it\u2019s past time that changes.\u201d<\/p>\n The bill has the backing of several aviation business groups and unions representing workers in aviation.<\/p>\n In June, the bill passed the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.<\/p>\n That prompted Canadian comedian Nathan Fielder last month to, at least partially, credit the second season of his HBO show \u201cThe Rehearsal,\u201d which focuses on aviation safety and pilot communication, with its advancement.<\/p>\n During a panel at the <\/p>\n Writers Guild Foundation\u2019s Sublime Primetime,<\/a><\/p>\n Fielder said he heard the show helped push the bill forward thanks to young staffers who \u201cmake all the decisions\u201d on Capitol Hill.<\/p>\n The news site Deadline, which moderated the panel, ran with it, and <\/p>\n
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