Bipartisan lawmakers unveil legislation to close gap in UAP reporting

A new bill proposed by a bipartisan group of lawmakers aims to protect commercial pilots and aviation personnel who report sightings of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs), commonly known as UFOs.

Under the Safe Airspace for Americans Act, led by Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) and Rep. Glenn Grossman (R-Wis.), pilots are assigned to the U.S. government, primarily the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). are encouraged to provide information. ), which would relay the report to the Department of Defense's All Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) in exchange for legal protection.

“UAP transparency is critical to national security, which is why we need to create a forum for aviation professionals to report their findings and experiences,” Garcia said in a statement. “This bill is a further step forward in disclosure and provides a secure process for UAP reporting by civilian and commercial parties.”

The bill would target commercial pilots, FAA air traffic controllers, flight attendants, maintenance personnel, dispatchers and airlines. If passed, the bill would also require the FAA to share information related to incidents with AARO and to further investigate reports, the lawmakers said in a statement.

Grossman said serious questions remain about whether UAPs pose a significant risk to national security, and this bill would help increase transparency on the issue.

“Following Congressional testimony from military pilots who have witnessed these phenomena, the Safe Airspace for Americans Act will require a thorough investigation of potential threats to those on the front lines of our skies. “This is an important initiative that will empower us to provide valuable information on unmanned aircraft sightings that will help,” he said.

“Because a majority of Americans believe that the government is hiding information about unmanned aircraft, our bipartisan effort will continue to improve the safety and security of the American people.” “This underscores the need for federal transparency regarding airplanes,” the congressman added.

The bill has support from Americans for Safe Aerospace (ASA) and was introduced after Ryan Graves, executive director of the group, testified before Congress last year about his UAP sightings. Graves, a former U.S. Navy fighter pilot, called on Congress to intervene and provide safer reporting options.

“Pilots are trained observers of the sky,” Graves said in announcing the bill. “But I've heard from dozens of pilots at major airlines who are frustrated that even though they witnessed a UAP, there was no secret way to report it to the government.”

“I am so encouraged to see Representatives Garcia and Grossman stand with pilots and take this real and historic step for national security and the safety of aviation,” he added.

The law's protections also prevent pilots who report UAPs from being medically disqualified from their jobs, prohibit airlines from retaliating against employees, and protect federal employees.

UAP has been thrust into the spotlight over the past year after former intelligence officer and whistleblower David Groush made unsubstantiated claims before Congress last summer about government cover-ups and human contact.

When asked at the time to provide more details, Grusch deflected by claiming that “you could go to jail if you divulge classified information.”