April 14, 2026. Media contact: media@raa.org
Washington, DC – The Regional Airline Association (RAA) issued the following statement today after the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation advanced two critical pieces of legislation: the Mental Health in Aviation Act of 2025 (S. 3257) and the Aviation Medication Transparency Act.
“Supporting pilot mental health is supporting aviation safety. RAA strongly supports today’s committee passage of this bipartisan legislation, which represents a historic step toward a safer and more supportive aviation system. By expanding pathways for care, these bills ensure that pilots and air traffic controllers can seek the help they need.
The Mental Health in Aviation Act will provide the FAA with the critical funding resources needed to hire more medical examiners, reduce certification backlogs, and launch the public information campaigns necessary to finally break the stigma surrounding mental health in our industry. RAA is proud to have contributed to the FAA’s 2024 Mental Health Rulemaking Committee and to see its recommendations moving closer to implementation.
RAA applauds Senators John Hoeven (R-ND) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) for their steadfast leadership on these issues in the Senate, as well as the prior leadership of Congressmen Sean Casten (D-IL) and Pete Stauber (R-MN) on the House side. We look forward to the full Senate’s swift passage of these bills.”
The Regional Airline Association (RAA) provides a unified voice of advocacy for North American regional airlines aimed at promoting a safe, reliable, and strong regional airline industry. RAA serves as an important support network connecting regional airlines and industry business partners. Regional airlines operate 32% of U.S. scheduled passenger flights and provide the only source of scheduled air service to 64% of the nation’s airports. Regional airlines provide more than 70% of the air service in West Virginia (92%), Alaska (85%), North Dakota (80%), Kansas (75%), Arkansas (75%), Alabama (75%), and Vermont (74%). Regional airlines provide more than half of the air service in Mississippi (68%), South Dakota (68%), Maine (67%), Idaho (67%), Wyoming (66%), New Hampshire (63%), Montana (63%), Wisconsin (53%), Iowa (53%), Virginia (52%), Kentucky (51%), and Indiana (51%).