Congress To Hold PUBLIC HEARING – Look What It’s About
(RepublicanPress.org) – On December 16, 2017, The New York Times and POLITICO published reports revealing that the Pentagon established the Advanced Aviation Threat Identification Program (AATIP) in 2007 under the direction of Congress to investigate unidentified ariel phenomena (UAPs) formerly known as UFOs. Then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) spearheaded the push the create the multi-million dollar project with the assistance of the late World War II veterans and Senators Ted Stevens (R-AK) and Daniel Inouye (D-HI). The simultaneous reports emerged shortly after Defense Department (DOD) officials confirmed the program’s existence.
The Pentagon reportedly shut down funding for the program in 2012. However, its backers claim the program remains in existence and continues investigating UFO encounters reported by multiple military pilots and radar operators over the years.
Most of the AATIP’s funding went to an aerospace research firm run by Robert Bigelow. His company is currently developing and producing expandable crafts for use in outer space. Bigelow told CBS News’ “60 Minutes” he was “absolutely convinced” aliens exist during an interview that aired on May 28, 2017.
Congressional committees struggled with the issue of UFOs over the years until President Joe Biden signed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) (S.1605) on December 27, 2021. Ironically, President Biden signed the NDAA a day before Harry Reid‘s death.
The final version of the act included a groundbreaking amendment requiring Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and National Intelligence Director Avril Haines to establish an office to research UFOs within 180 days. Under the NDAA, the office would have full access to data held by the DOD and intelligence community regarding UAPs.
Lawmakers To Hold First UFO Hearing in Decades
On May 10, 2022, Rep. André Carson (D-IN) announced that the House Intelligence Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Counterintelligence, and Counterproliferation would hold a hearing on UFOs for the first time in more than 50 years.
Congress hasn't held a public hearing on unidentified aerial phenomena (UFO's) in over 50 years. That will change next week when I lead a hearing in @HouseIntel on this topic & the national security risk it poses. Americans need to know more about these unexplained occurrences.
— André Carson (@RepAndreCarson) May 10, 2022
Carlson, the subcommittee’s chair, scheduled the public hearing for Tuesday, May 17. POLITICO reported two Pentagon officials would testify at the hearing: Ronald Moultrie, the Defense Department’s top intelligence official, and Deputy Director of Naval Intelligence Scott Bray.
The New York Times reported testimony is expected to include information regarding a “Preliminary Assessment [of] Unidentified Aerial Phenomena” published by the Director of National Intelligence’s Office on June 25, 2021.
The 9-page report detailed 144 reported incidents of UFO sightings spanning the last 18 years. However, the report said investigators were unable to explain the incidents.
The preliminary assessment failed to draw any inferences regarding the sightings, but it did confirm the reports represented “physical objects.” The report concluded the UFOs were not part of a secret US program. It also stated investigators lacked sufficient data to determine if the sightings resulted from “a foreign collection program or indicative of a major technological advancement by a potential adversary.”
Subcommittee members hope the public testimony will provide additional information on UFOs.
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