Public Engagement

“I think it is also important to note for the public, we—today in our hearing we had on our side also both our full Ranking Member, which is Mr. Raskin, and our Vice Ranking Member, which is Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, both here at our hearing.”

“I am a freshman Member of Congress and I have only been here for 7 months. But this is by far the most bipartisan conversation and discussion that I have seen happen in the Congress and I think that a topic of this significance as it relates to our national security, as it relates to information that we are trying to gather for the American public does bring people together and I think that has been really great to see.”

“Let me ask you all, how can the public contribute to UAP reporting and what avenues you think are available to the public to report these sightings?”

“And so, for the general public I think encouraging the conversations that we are having today, looking for technology solutions that can be distributed so that objective data can be gathered is the first place to go.”

“But it is also very clear that we have to continue our investigation and accountability on asking the right questions and ensuring that they are part of the public record.”

“Let me also just add an additional note that it is important also that our friends in the media and those that are not just reporting on this hearing but that have reported on this topic and that may in the future, the media has an important role in this process and it is very important that the media engages, does independent investigation, and reports on not just what happened today but what they see independently as what has happened around UAPs in the broader community.”

“I apologize, Mr. Chairman. I need to compliment the folks in my office that did a lot of the work on this. Rachel and Noah sitting behind me here, they are very quiet and humble. But without them this thing would not have come off like it did. So, I apologize.”

“First, to our witnesses, I want to thank all of you for being here with us today. I know that it takes a lot—a lot of courage. You are telling really important information to this Committee, and I just want to thank you also for your—all three of you, your service to our country.”

“I also want to just note that today's hearing was both important but also serious and I want to thank our Subcommittee Chairman, Mr. Grothman, I think for running a very fair and substantive hearing.”

“I think it shows the importance and seriousness that our side of the aisle is taking to this important hearing but also the broader issue as it relates to working with our Republican counterparts on this Committee.”

“One thing that was important today is some folks might wonder, you know, why are we asking questions that might already be out there or that have been asked before. It is important that they are asked and put into the public record as it relates to this Committee.”

“So, I want to thank you all for agreeing to do that today. Transparency is a cornerstone of government. We live in a vast galaxy. A lot of unanswered questions, and thank you all for being here today.”

“Thank you. I would like to one more time thank Mr. Burchett and Ms. Luna for bringing this to our attention. It is a topic that has interested me since I was in school. It was a very illuminating hearing.”

“That is also an important public benefit that we have in trying to get the information and the facts as it relates to this.”

“Thank you, and I want to thank everybody. We made history today. Mr. Chairman, I yield.”