The U.S. House of Representatives approved an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act last week to facilitate the reporting of unidentified flying objects (UFOs).
This amendment would establish a “secure system” for reporting UFO sightings — referred to as unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) by the Pentagon — which will be compiled into a database.
Said system would “serve as a mechanism to prevent unauthorized public reporting or [the compromising] of properly classified military and intelligence systems, programs, and related activity, including all categories and levels of special access and compartmented access programs, current, historical, and future.”
The amendment calls for the “immediate sharing” of phenomena by government workers and military personnel, despite any non-disclosure commitments or ranking orders. It is intended to encourage the reporting of sightings without the fear of retaliation.
Rep. Mike Gallagher, one of the bill’s co-sponsors, stated that Congress “must ensure the military and intelligence community are armed with the best possible information, capital, and scientific resources to defeat our enemies and maintain military and technological superiority,” reported the U.S. Sun.
He stated the amendment would play an essential role in advancing Congress’ ability to gather facts and “prove or disprove the origin and threat nature of whatever appears to be flying in our skies.”
During a congressional hearing on May 17, the Pentagon revealed declassified video footage and images of UFOs, The Dallas Express reported. It was the House Intelligence Subcommittee’s first UFO-related hearing in more than 50 years.
“We need to empower our service members to be transparent and to drop the stigma surrounding Unidentified Aerial Phenomena,” said Rep. Ruben Gallego, another bill sponsor, according to the U.S. Sun.
Rep. André Carson stated during that hearing that reporting on phenomena should be destigmatized.
“We also spent significant efforts engaging directly with our naval aviators to help destigmatize the act of reporting sights and encounters,” Carson said, stating pilots were “laughed at” when they reported sightings and encounters in the past.
“As a direct result of those efforts, there has been increased reporting… The message is clear now: if you see something, report it,” Carson said, The Debrief reported.
