The Department of Defense All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office introduced a new mechanism for reporting unidentified anomalous phenomena on its website.

The new reporting form marks the second phase of AARO’s initiative to ensure secure submission of UAP sightings that will inform its congressionally directed Historical Record Report, DOD said Tuesday.

The latest reporting mechanism is for current or former U.S. government employees, service members, or contractor personnel that have direct knowledge of domestic UAP programs or activities since 1945.

The submissions will be investigated and used as a resource for the Historical Record Report, which is expected to be submitted to Congress by June next year.

AARO emphasized that the form is not for submitting potentially sensitive, classified or unclassified but not publicly releasable information.

Alejandro Mayorkas, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and a previous Wash100 awardee, said Congress should reauthorize programs and authorities that are seen as critical to supporting the department’s mission in ensuring the safety of the country.

During his testimony on Tuesday before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Mayorkas called on Congress to reauthorize DHS’ counter-unmanned aircraft systems authority, which is set to expire on Nov. 18, and the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, which is expected to sunset on Dec. 21.

The DHS secretary told lawmakers that the authority to implement the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards program expired on July 28, resulting in the ability of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to perform risk assessments of high-risk chemical facilities.

“As of today, we have no longer been authorized to conduct over 450 inspections, when historically more than a third of inspections identify at least one gap in a facility’s security,” Mayorkas said at the Senate committee hearing.

Mayorkas also urged Congress to protect DHS’ intelligence collection authorities by reauthorizing Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and resisting a provision in a proposed bill that would limit the authority of the department’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis.

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The Aerospace Industries Association — or the AIA — called on Congress to authorize full-year appropriations to support the industry as it struggles to operate amid economic inflation.

A letter signed by 31 AIA members urged lawmakers to prioritize the approval of the 2024 budget that includes additional proposed funding in the Senate Defense Appropriations Bill.

The organization emphasized the significance of the aerospace sector and the defense supply chain in general in the frontlines of national security.

The letter discussed how inflationary pressures are causing delivery delays and rising supply chain costs. It also highlighted the impact of such challenges on small aerospace and defense businesses.

“Completing full-year appropriations must be Congress’ top priority now. Continuing resolutions extend outdated funding levels that do not address inflationary growth, and a shutdown is even more harmful to businesses in the aerospace and defense supply chain,” the association wrote.