PROPOSALS RELATING TO COVERT ACTION AND LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79-00957A000100090011-8
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 1, 2006
• Sequence Number: 11
• Publication Date: October 29, 1974
• Content Type: BULL

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29 October 1.974
PROPOSALS RELATING TO COVERT ACTION
AND LEGISLATIVE OVERSIG}-IT
This bulletin is being published in accordance with the
Director's dec~ire to keep employees informed of matters af-
fecting the Agency. It includes swnmaries 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.
CONGRESSIONf~L PROPOSALS ON COVERT ACTION
1. Abourezk Amendment
SUMMARY: Senator Abourezk introduced a floor amendment
to the Foreign Assistance Ar.t (S. 3394) which would have.
prohibited. funds being used by any [J.S. governmental agency
to caxry 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 o:F 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 cavort opera-
tions (defined to exclude intelligence gathering) unless the
President finds the operation to be vital to the defense of
the iJ.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 ~ war,
STATUS: On October 7_, 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 . 1-Iol t zman Amendmen t.
SUNtAfARY: Representative I-to].tzman introduced a I-louse
floor amendment to the 1975 Continuing Appropriations. reso-
lution (H.J. Res. 1131). The amendment would have banned
the use o:# any money appropriated under the joint resolution
for use by CIA to "destabilize" or undermine any government.
.STATUS: The amendment was defeated Z91-108 on Septem-
ber 24.
4. House Foreign Affairs Committee
SUMMARY: On October 10 the House Foreign Affairs
Cornm3.ttee reported for floor action. its version of the
Foreign Assistance Act amendments (H.R. 17234). Included
was a section patterned after the I~ughes Amendment. This
provision bans operations in foreign countries, except.
intelligence collection, unless the President finds the
operation to be important to the national security, and
submits a timely report describing the operas:ion 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 16 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 are 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 PROPOSALS
There are three distinct approaches in this category:
bills which attempt to supplement (A below), supplant (R belowl
or, study (C below) existing oversi?;ht procedures.
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A. Su~~lement
1. Bolling-I-Iansen House_Committee Reform Amendments
SUMIv911RY: Representati~re Zablocki intr.od.uced a.
floor arne:ndment providing the Fore~_gn 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, F.enresenta-
tive Nedzi, supported the amendment; as conforming to an agree-
ment between Dr. Kissinger, Mr. Co!by, and the Chairmen of
the Armed Services and Foreign Affairs committees, Representa-
tives Hebert and Morgan.
STATUS: The 7,ablocki amendment passed by-voice
vote,~and the entire Committee Refcarm Amendments were agreed
to by the Ijouse on 8 Qctoi~er.
B. Suppla>lt
1. Baker/Weicker bill (S. 4019
SUMMARY: This bill world create a Senate-I-louse
Joint Committee on Intelligence Oversight to supplant Armed
Services Committee jurisdiction. The Committee would have
14 members, appointed by the leadership, and the.chairrnanship
would alternate between the House and Senate for each Congress.
The jurisdiction of the Committee iaould extend to CIA, FBI,
Secret Service, DIA, NSA, a.nd 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 al.l
activities.
STATUS: Referred to Committee on Government
Operations; hearings are planned after Congress reconvenes
in November.
2. Harrington Resolutions (H. Res. 552 and 12311
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)
SCIMMARY: This resolution would create a Senate-
House Joint Committee which would have oversight of CIA and
all other intelligence and information agencies of the Ii.S.
Government.
STATUS: Referred to Armed Services Committee.
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1. Mondale Resolution (S. Res. 404)
SUMMARY: This resolution would create a Senate
Select Committee .on Intelligence Policy, composed of :Five
members of. Aimed Services, five mem~hers of foreign Relations,
and five other Senators. The Select Committee would b.e
authorized to examine U.S. intelligence policies and opera-
tions, :to determine the role of 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.
Z. Mathias and Mansfield Resolution (S. Res. 419)
SUMMARY: This resolution would create an 8-
member (selected at-large) Select C~emmittee to .Study Govern-
mental Operations With Respect to Intelligence Activities.
The Committee. is instr~_~~ted to study and investigate all
domestic and foreign intelligence a4tivities~of the tT.S.
Government and past effect a.nd 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 (5..1547)
SUMMARY: This bill wou~Id 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, dom+~stic, and military
national security policies, study t;~e National .Security
Council, and study Government classification practices ,_ and
report periodically to each House o~z the Committee's fundings.
STATUS: Bi11 recently transferred from Armed
Services to Government Operations Committee at Senator
Ilumphrey's reduest.
4. Harrington Resolution _(H._Res. 1232)
SUMMARY: This resolution would authorize the
House Committee on Foreign Affairs 'to conduct a complete
investigation of CIA.
AGENCY POSITION
It has been the consistent v:~ew of the Director that
the manner in which legislative over?sight of the Agency is
.exercised is a nuestion for the Congress itself to decide.
T~T~TT2TRU'I'ION' Af,T, fiMPLOYTRS (1.-h}
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