PROPOSALS RELATING TO COVERT ACTION AND LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79-00957A000100070033-7
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 11, 2006
• Sequence Number: 33
• Publication Date: October 29, 1974
• Content Type: BULL

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PROPOSALS RELATING TO COVERT ACTION
AND LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT
This bulletin is being published in accordance with the
Director's desire to keep employees informed of matters af-
fecting the Agency. It iaicludes summaries of the status of
various proposals in Congress relating to covert action
activities of the Agency and legislative oversight, as well
as views of the President and the Director on certain of
these proposals.
CONGRESSIONAL PROPOSALS ON COVERT ACTION
1. Abourezk Amendment
SUMMARY: Senator Abourezk introduced a floor amendment
to the :Foreign Assistance Act (S. 3394) which would have
prohibited funds being usti.d by any U.S. governmental agency
to carry out any activities which would violate or encourage
violation of the laws of the U.S. or the country involved.
Excluded were activities necessary to national security
which were intended solely for intelligence collection.
STATUS: Defeated on Senate floor on October 2 by a
vote of 68-17.
2. Hughes Amendment
SUMMARY: Senator Hughes also introduced a floor
amendment to the Foreign Assistance Act (S. 3394) dealing
with covert operations, but much less restrictive than
Senator Abourezk's. It would. bar funds for covert opera-
tions (defined to exclude intelligence gathering) unless the
President finds the operation to be vital to the defense of
the U.S., and transmits a report of his findings, with a
description of the operation, to the congressional intelli
.gence oversight committees. These procedural safeguards
would be eliminated during a war.
STATUS: On October 2, following the acceptance of
the amendment by Senator Stennis, the entire Foreign Assis-
tance bill was recommitted to the Foreign Relations Committee.
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3. Holtzman Amendment
SUMMARY: Representat Holtzman introduced a House
floor amendment to the 1975 C1Linuing Appropriations reso-
lution (H.J. Res. 1131). The amendment would have banned
the use of any money appropriated under the joint resolution
for use by CIA to "destabilize" or undermine any government.
STATUS: The amendment was defeated 291-108 on Septem-
4. House Foreign Affairs_ Committeee
SUMMARY: On October 10 the House Foreign Affairs
Committee reported for floor action its version of the
Foreign Assistance Act amendments (H.R. 17234). Included
was a section patterned after the Hughes Amendment. This
provision bans operations in foreign countrio., except
intelligence collection, unless the President finds the
operation to be important to the national security, and
submits a timely report describing the operation to Congress.
The report is to go to the. "appropriate committees" of the
Congress, specifically including the foreign affairs commit-
tees. The provisions are to be suspended during war.
STATUS: This bill has not yet come before the entire
EXECUTIVE POSITION ON COVERT ACTION
The President, in his 1.6 September news conference,
stated that "our Government, like other governments, does
take certain actions in the foreign intelligence field to
help implement foreign policy and protect national securi-
ty---....it is a recognized fact that historically as well as
presently, such actions a-e taken in the best interest of
the countries involved."
The Director, in a letter to Chairman Fulbright of the
Foreign Relations Committee, emphasized the possible adverse
-impact of the proposed Abourezk amendment on the Nation's
national security interests. The Director restated his
views that "I think it would be a mistake to deprive our
nation of the capability of some moderate covert response to
a foreign problem and to leave us no alternative between a
diplomatic protest and sending the Marines."
CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT P11_1'_OPOSALS
There are three distinct approaches in this category:
bills which attempt to supplement (A below), supplant (B below)
or, study (C below) existing oversight procedures.
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A. Supplement
1. Bolling-Hansen House Committee Reform Amendments
SUMMARY: Representative Zablocki introduced a
floor amendment providi.nc;, the Foreign Affairs Committee a
special oversight function of reviewing and studying "intel-
ligence activities relating to foreign policy." The chairman
of the Armed Services intelligence subcommittee, Representa-
tiveNedzi, supported the amendment as conforming to an agree-
ment between Dr. Kissinger, Mr. Colby, and the Chairmen of
the Armed Services and Foreign Affairs committees, Representa-
tives Hebert and Morgan.
STATUS: The Zablocki amendment passed by voice
vote, and the entire Committee Reform Amendments were agreed
to by the House on 8 October.
B . Su1 l ant
1. Baker/Weicker bill (S. 4019)
SUMMARY: Th-_s bill -:could create a Senate-House
Joint Committee on Intelligence Oversight to supplant Armed
Services Committee jurisdiction. The Committee would have
14 members, appointed by the leadership, and the chairmanship
would alternate between the House and Senate for each Congress.
The jurisdiction of the Committee would extend to CIA, FBI,
Secret Service, DIA, NSA, and all other governmental activi-
ties pertaining to intelligence gathering or surveillance of
persons. Chiefs of all named departments would be required
to keep the Committee fully and currently informed of all
activities.
STATUS: Referred to Committee on Government
Operations; hearings are planned after Congress reconvenes
in November.
2. Harrington Resolutions (H. Res. 552 and 1231)
SUMMARY: These alternative resolutions would
transfer to a new House committee jurisdiction over the
Central Intelligence Agency or over the entire intelligence
community and all matters relating to foreign intelligence.
STATUS: Referred to the House Rules Committee.
3. Hathaway bill (S. Con. Res. 23)
SUMMARY: This resolution would create a Senate-
House Joint Committee which would. have oversight of CIA and
all other intelligence and information agencies of the TI.S.
Government.
STATUS: Referred. to Armed Services Committee.
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C. Study
1. Mondale Resolution (S. Res. 404)
SUMMARY: This resolu--ion would create a Senate
Select Committee on Intelligence Policy, composed of five
members of Armed Services, five members of Foreign Relations
and five other Senators. The ' 'oct Committee would be
authorized to examine U.S. ins Tence policies and opera-
tions, to determine the role or intelligence decisionmaking,
and evaluate the impact of intelligence on national security
and foreign policy. The Committee is to report to the
Senate by June 30, 1975.
STATUS: Referred to Armed Services Committee.
2. Mathias and Mansfield Resolution (S. Res. 419)
SUMMARY: This resolution would create an 8-
member (selected at-large) Select Committee to Study Govern-
mental Operations With Respect to Intelligence Activities.
The Committee is instructed to study and investigate all
domestic and foreign intelligence activities of the U.S.
Government and past effect and future role of such activities.
The Committee's report is due two years after enactment.
STATUS. Referred to Committee on Government Operations.
3. Humphrey bill (S. 1547)
SUMMARY: This bill would create a Joint Committee
on National Security, consisting of the Speaker, majority
and minority members of each House, the chairman and ranking
minority members of the Armed Service, Appropriations,
Foreign Affairs, Joint Atomic Energy Committees, three other
Representatives, and three other Senators. Functions of the
Committee are to study foreign, domestic, and military
national security policies, study the National Security
Council, and study Government classification practices, and
report periodically to each House on the Committee's fundings.
STATUS: Bill recently transferred from Armed
Services to Government Operations Committee at Senator
Humphrey's request.
4. Harrington Resolution (H. Res. 1232)
SUMMARY: This resolution would authorize the
I-louse Committee on Foreign Affairs to conduct a complete
investigation of CIA.
STATUS: Referred to Committee on Rules.
AGENCY POSITION
It has been the consistent view of the Director that
the manner. in which legislative oversight of the Agency is
exercised is a question for the Congress itself to decide.
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