(NewsNation) — The highly anticipated House Oversight subcommittee hearing on UAPs brought out hundreds of people eager to hear from the three witnesses first-hand, and Republican Rep. Glenn Grothman made it clear he believes the House of Representatives’ investigation has just begun.
So, what comes next?
Congress left the hearing with homework to do, promising a bipartisan bill and more hearings to come.
“It was a very illuminating hearing,” Grothman said. “Obviously, I think several of us are going to look forward to getting some answers in a more confidential setting. I assume some legislation will come out of this.”
Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., said Wednesday’s hearing was the “first of many” on the government’s handling of information related to UAPs.
Some members were frustrated they weren’t able to get time with witnesses in a secure meeting room in order to hear classified details, leaving some questions unanswered due to the sensitive nature of the issue.
“A lot of (David Grusch’s) answers today were classified information that he provided to the inspector general. We want to see that,” said Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla. “I think that’s the next step here, to get that information in a secure facility.”
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., told reporters a bipartisan group of lawmakers will seek a closed meeting with the witnesses to discuss confidential information.
Another UAP transparency advocate, Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., told NewsNation he is raising the possibility of creating a new House select committee to investigate UAPs. That would possibly grant lawmakers subpoena power and should give them access to a secure facility where they can review classified information.
“We may need other authorities that would require the establishment of a select committee, and we’re going to be chatting with (House Speaker Kevin McCarthy) on those things in the coming days,” Gaetz said.
Burchett’s office confirmed the creation of the committee is “in talks.”
Luna and Burchett and spearheaded the effort to hold the hearing, which came more than a year after another held by a House Intelligence subcommittee, the first in over 50 years.
Wednesday’s witnesses told Congress that UAPs pose a national security risk and called for a centralized reporting system.
The Oversight subcommittee promised improvements in key areas: Handling whistleblower complaints better, creating ways to document and collect information about UAPs and erasing the stigma around the subject.
“I think that the groundwork has been laid now it’s in Congress’ hands to deploy resources and do some more follow-up,” said Taras Matla, a UAP researcher. “We’re looking for our government to be open and honest with us, and if there is indeed some type of nonhuman intelligence operating not just in the sky but present here on earth, we have a right to know and we do want to know.”
The Hill contributed to this report.
