The Hill

New legislation proposed by bipartisan lawmakers aims to protect civilian pilots and air personnel who report sightings of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) — more commonly known as UFOs.

Under the “Safe Airspace for Americans Act,” led by Reps. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) and Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.), pilots are encouraged to provide information to the U.S. government — primarily the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which would relay reports to the Pentagon’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) — in exchange for legal safeguards.

“UAP transparency is incredibly important for our national security, which is why we need to create a space where those in aviation have the ability to report their findings and experiences,” Garcia said in a statement. “This bill is another step forward for disclosure and to provide a safe process for UAP reporting by civilian and commercial personnel.”

The legislation would cover civilian pilots, FAA air traffic controllers, flight attendants, maintenance workers, dispatchers and airlines. If passed, it would also require the FAA to share any information related to the incident with the AARO and investigate the reports further, the lawmakers said in a statement.

Grothman said serious questions remain around whether UAPs post a significant risk to national security, and the bill would help create transparency around the topic.

“Following Congressional testimony from military pilots who witnessed these phenomena, the Safe Airspace for Americans Act is a crucial initiative that empowers those on the frontline of our skies to contribute valuable intelligence regarding UAP sightings that can help ensure that potential threats are thoroughly investigated,” he said.

“With the majority of Americans believing that the government has suppressed information on UAPs, our bipartisan effort highlights our need for transparency from the federal government regarding UAPs to better protect the safety and security of American citizens,” Grothman added.

The bill, which has been endorsed by Americans for Safe Aerospace (ASA), comes after the advocacy organization’s executive director, Ryan Graves, testified before Congress last year about his experience with UAP sightings. Graves, a former U.S. Navy fighter pilot, asked Congress to step in and provide safer reporting options.

“Pilots are trained observers of our skies,” Graves said in the bill announcement. “But I have heard from dozens of frustrated pilots for major airlines who witnessed UAP yet had no confidential way to report them to the government.”

“I am incredibly encouraged to see Congressman Garcia and Congressman Grothman standing with pilots and taking a pragmatic and historic step forward for national security and aviation safety,” he added.

Protections within the legislation would also prevent pilots who report UAPs from being medically disqualified from their positions, bar airlines from retaliating against employees and safeguard federal workers.

UAPs have come into the spotlight within the past year after former intelligence officer and whistleblower David Grusch made unsubstantiated claims before Congress last summer about government cover-ups and nonhuman contact.

When asked to provide more detail at the time, Grusch deflected, claiming he could “go to jail for revealing classified information.”