Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)
Aviation Medication Transparency Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 3 Republican cosponsors · See all 14 cosponsors
Last activity — Held at the desk.
Passed one chamber, waiting for the other to take it up
Passed one chamber, and the other has not yet sent it to a committee or put it on its calendar.
The other chamber will hand it to a committee, place it on its calendar, or leave it where it is. Nothing has been decided, and a bill can sit here indefinitely.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- Passed Senate unanimous consent
- Awaiting House
The Senate by unanimous consent (no one objected, so there was no vote): no senator's position on it was recorded.
What this bill would do
This bill is known as the Aviation Medication Transparency Act of 2026. It requires the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator to publish and maintain a list of approved and prohibited medications for airmen and air traffic control specialists. The purpose is to ensure that aviation stakeholders are informed in a user-friendly and accessible manner about safe medications and conditions for use. The FAA must publish this list on a publicly available website and on MedXPress within one year of the Act's enactment. The list must also include contact information for doctors to reach the FAA with questions. Finally, the bill includes a savings clause stating that publishing the list does not assign liability to the Administrator if someone experiences adverse reactions or is deemed ineligible for medical certification.
Yes· 3 of 6
- Scored +6
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
Requires the FAA to publish and maintain a transparent, public list of approved medications.
- Scored +5
Would union members be better off under this?
Specifically includes consulting with bargaining representatives for pilots and air traffic controllers.
- Scored +5
Would students be better off under this?
Directly benefits individuals training to become airmen or air traffic control specialists.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 2(b) requires the FAA Administrator to publish and maintain a publicly available list of medications that have been approved for medical certification or clearance. This is positive because it gives pilots and air traffic controllers clear information on what medications they can safely take.
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Section 2(c)(3) requires the medication list to be made available in a user-friendly and accessible manner on MedXPress when individuals first seek medical certification. This helps trainees and workers easily find the health guidance they need without hunting through complicated documents.
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Section 2(c)(6) requires the inclusion of contact information for doctors and medical providers to ask the FAA questions related to the medication list. This benefits individuals by helping their personal physicians communicate directly with the aviation authorities about safe treatment options.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Section 2(e) states that publishing the medication list does not assign liability to the Administrator if an individual relies on the list and experiences an adverse medical reaction. This means workers bear the personal risk even if they followed the published FAA list.
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Section 2(e)(2) clarifies that the Administrator is not liable if a person causes harm or injury to persons or property after using a medication from the list. Individuals could still face severe personal or legal consequences for accidents even when using approved medications.
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Section 2(e)(3) notes that the Administrator is not liable if a person is deemed ineligible for a medical certification or clearance after using a listed medication. Workers might still lose their medical clearance or livelihood despite attempting to follow the published guidance.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would students be better off under this? — Directly benefits individuals training to become airmen or air traffic control specialists. Would union members be better off under this? — Specifically includes consulting with bargaining representatives for pilots and air traffic controllers. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — Provides current airmen and controllers with transparency regarding medication and certification. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Benefits students and trainees entering the aviation profession by providing clear certification requirements.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — Requires the FAA to publish and maintain a transparent, public list of approved medications.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — Provides clear guidance to aviation professionals and their doctors on safe medication options for certification.
- 10/1/2026
- Held at the desk.
- Received in the House.
- 9/28/2026
- Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- 9/24/2026
- Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5019; text: CR S5019)
- Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5019; text: CR S5019)
- 9 Cosponsors added.
- 9/14/2026
- Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-140.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 559.
- 7/22/2026
- Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- 2/10/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 11/20/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
Richard BlumenthalDemocrat · Connecticut
Katie BrittRepublican · Alabama
Christopher CoonsDemocrat · Delaware
Richard DurbinDemocrat · Illinois
John HickenlooperDemocrat · Colorado
Martin HeinrichDemocrat · New Mexico
John HoevenRepublican · North Dakota
Amy KlobucharDemocrat · Minnesota
Andy KimDemocrat · New Jersey
Jeff MerkleyDemocrat · Oregon
John ReedDemocrat · Rhode Island
James RischRepublican · Idaho
Jeanne ShaheenDemocrat · New Hampshire
Mark WarnerDemocrat · Virginia