Vice Ranking Member Moskowitz’s Opening Statement at Joint Subcommittee Hearing Examining Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena

Washington, D.C. (November 13, 2024)  Below is Vice Ranking Member Jared Moskowitz's opening statement, as prepared for delivery, at today's joint hearing of the Subcommittees on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation and on National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP).

Opening Statement
Vice Ranking Member Jared Moskowitz
Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation
Hearing on "Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Exposing the Truth"
November 13, 2024

Good morning, everyone.

I first want to thank the Chairs and Ranking Members, for holding this follow-up hearing on a topic that has proven to bring this committee together.

Additionally, thank you to the witnesses for coming forward today to share your expertise on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena and the need to build trust through transparency.

I'd also like to take a moment to send my best wishes to my dear friend and colleague, Ranking Member Connolly, who was recently diagnosed with esophageal cancer. All of us on this Committee know that he is a fighter, and I'm praying for his speedy recovery.

Today's hearing marks this Committee's second meeting dedicated to UAP transparency, and I was pleased with the bipartisanship that we found in last year's hearing on the topic.

While last year's hearing was a great example of open dialogue about UAPs, we must remain committed to sharing information with the American people.

You can see this commitment across the political spectrum.

I have personally worked with, not only members of my own party, but also colleagues across the aisle, particularly Rep. Burchett, my fellow co-chair of the Congressional UAP Caucus.

In recent years, Congress has taken numerous bipartisan steps toward greater transparency.

In the Fiscal Year 2022 NDAA, Congress created the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office to investigate unidentified flying objects.

Earlier this year, I joined Rep. Burchett to introduce the UAP Transparency Act, which would require the declassification of all federal documents related to UAPs.

The FY2024 NDAA requires the National Archives and Record Administration to establish the "Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Records Collection."

This collection will include digital copies of all identified UAP records that can be publicly disclosed.

This commitment to transparency is vitally important, and unnecessary overclassification has led to numerous conspiracy theories over the decades.

When the American people, and Members of Congress, ask "Are reports of UAPs credible?" and are met with stonewalling and responses of "I can't tell you," it is easy for those ideas to spiral into dangerous ideas that decay the relationship between the government and the people.

In a time of heightened distrust of our government institutions, I believe it is our duty to be as transparent as possible, within reasonable national security limits, and provide our constituents with the oversight they have tasked us with.

As part of this, government agencies must maintain open lines of communication with Members of Congress.

While UAPs might be unexplained, it does not make them any less real, and holding open discussions, like today's hearing, on the topic will allow us to advance our oversight and be held accountable by the American people.

Thank you again to everyone involved in holding this hearing, and I look forward to an interesting and productive conversation.

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