A federal office dedicated to studying UFOs could be on the horizon thanks to U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).
Gillibrand and co-sponsor Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) announced on Thursday that their proposed unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) amendment will be included in the fiscal year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
“My amendment will establish a formal office to report and respond to UAPs and give us the scientific capabilities needed to track and share data, investigate sightings, and develop a response to this growing security threat,” Gillibrand, who is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said in the press release.
Administered by the Secretary of Defense and the Director of National Intelligence, the office would replace the current Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force — a temporary U.S. Navy task force that collects UAP data — with a collaborative approach that would improve data-sharing between agencies on UAP sightings.
“It is my hope that the creation of a new joint Defense Department and Intelligence Community office focused on UAPs will provide the resources, analytics and attention needed to determine what is loitering around our military training ranges,” Sen. Rubio said, who is vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.
“The DoD and IC need to ensure a more uniform collection strategy is in place and that we continue to destigmatize reporting on UAPs, particularly from military aviators,” he continued.
The amendment is a bi-partisan initiative in the interest of national security.
“This amendment ensures that we treat UAP as we would any potential national security threat that would enter U.S. restricted training or operational areas,” Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO), a co-sponsor of the amendment, said.
“Staying ahead of UAP sightings is critical to keeping our strategic edge and keeping our nation safe,” Gillibrand added.
According to the press release, the office would be tasked with the following:
—Collect and analyze data about UAPs, with access to all relevant data from Intelligence Community agencies
—Establish and implement a science plan to test relevant theories
—Build a national priorities intelligence framework
—Evaluate any links between UAPs and foreign governments or non-state actors as well as potential threats
—Provide unclassified annual reports to Congress and classified semiannual briefings
Other co-sponsors of the amendment in the Senate include Senators Lindsay Graham (R-SC) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM).
___
(c) 2021 Staten Island Advance
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
