U.S. House approves measure to establish office to investigate UFOs
The legislation now heads to the Senate.
The House voted 332-96 on Wednesday to approve the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) Office Act, which would create a permanent office within the Department of Defense to investigate UFOs and other "unidentified aerial phenomena."
The office would be responsible for collecting and analyzing data on UAPs, developing protocols for responding to UAP incidents, and coordinating with other government agencies and the private sector on UAP research.
The legislation was introduced by Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) and Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.). Gallagher said in a statement that the office is needed to "get to the bottom of this issue and ensure that our national security is not compromised." Gallegosaid in a statement that the office would "help us better understand these phenomena and ensure that we are prepared to respond to them."
The legislation now heads to the Senate, where it is expected to face a more difficult path to passage. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has said that he is "open" to considering the legislation, but he has also expressed skepticism about UFOs.
The vote comes as the U.S. military has been increasingly investigating reports of UFOs in recent years. In 2020, the Pentagon established a task force to investigate UFOs, and in June 2021, the task force released a report that said that it had identified 144 UFO sightings that could not be explained.
The new office would be tasked with continuing to investigate these sightings and developing a plan for how to respond to future UFO incidents. The office would also be responsible for coordinating with other government agencies and the private sector on UAP research.
The legislation is a significant step forward in the effort to understand UFOs and their potential threat to national security. The office would provide a permanent structure for investigating UFOs and developing a plan for responding to future incidents.
