U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) has led a bipartisan group of lawmakers, which includes his Florida delegation colleagues U.S. Reps. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) and Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.), to seek transparency from the federal government about unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), also known as unidentified flying objects (UFOs).

During a press conference Thursday that also included U.S. Reps. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), Eric Burlison (R-Mo.) and Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.), Gaetz expressed his concern with the federal government's unwillingness to provide members of Congress answers to questions about UAPs.

Gaetz and his colleagues are offering the UAP Disclosure Act to rectify the lack of transparency.

Despite reporting to the contrary, Gaetz told reporters at the press event that U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Saks), the chairman of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee, has been an ally in the effort.

"I also wanted to specifically thank House Armed Services chairman Mike Rogers," Gaetz said. "He allowed the Burchett amendment to go on the bill without objection. I think he needs to be commended for that. And also, when my colleagues, Miss Luna and Mr. Burchett, and I were at an Air Force base and were told by Air Force officials that we weren't allowed to see information that whistleblowers had expressed to us existed, it was, in fact, Chairman Rogers himself who personally engaged with the Office of the Secretary of Defense and gave us the opportunity to view the images that were taken by pilots of some of these unidentified aerial phenomena."

Gaetz also reiterated the point about Rogers on his social media:

"Thankfully, @RepMikeRogersAL has been an ally in the efforts to expedite the disclosure of information on UAPs and to hold the House position.

When the Air Force tried to block my review of the information discussed below, Chairman Rogers personally made calls and broke that logjam."

Jeff Poor is the editor in chief of 1819 News and host of "The Jeff Poor Show," heard Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-noon on Mobile's FM Talk 106.5. To connect or comment, email jeff.poor@1819News.com or follow him on Twitter @jeff_poor.

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