H.R. 8424, the UAP Transparency Act, was introduced on May 16, 2024 by Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN-2) along with three co-sponsors. The bill would require the President to direct every federal department and agency to declassify and post all UAP-related documents, reports, and records on a publicly available website. As of its introduction, the bill was referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability.
What would this bill actually require the government to do?
The bill sets a 270-day deadline from the date of enactment for the President to order every federal department and agency holding UAP records to declassify them and post them on a publicly accessible website. There is no exemption process described in the bill text for withholding any records.
Beyond the initial release, the bill also requires the President to send a progress report to two congressional committees within 360 days of enactment, and then quarterly after that. Those committees are the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability and the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Who introduced this bill and who else signed on?
Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN-2) is the primary sponsor. The bill was introduced alongside three co-sponsors: Rep. Moskowitz, Rep. Luna, and Rep. Burlison. It falls under the Armed Forces and National Security policy area.
How does the bill define "unidentified anomalous phenomena"?
The bill does not create its own definition. Instead, it points to the definition already established in section 1683 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (50 U.S.C. 3373).
Where does the bill stand right now?
The bill was introduced on May 16, 2024 and referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability the same day. No further legislative action is recorded in the source.