HOUSE SETS CLOSED SESSION ON SECRET-AID CUTOFF

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00552R000403850039-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 16, 2010
• Sequence Number: 39
• Publication Date: July 15, 1983
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/07/16: CIA-RDP90-00552R000403850039-1
PHILADMPiiIA INQUIF
15 July 1983
House sets closed session on
secret-aid cutoff
By W. Dale Nelson
ALOO.Ud P+= -
WASHINGTON - The Houseyester-
day scheduled a closed session.dur-
ing its debate on cutting off covert
.aid to Nicaraguan rebels amid re-
ports that the Reagan administration
plans to expand it.
By unanimous voice - vote -after
brief debate, the congressmen, ap--
proved a resolution calling for a
four-hour closed session Tuesday on
a bill to halt the aid.
The bill, already approved by the
House Foreign Affairs Committee
and the House Select Committee on
Intelligence, would replace.the un-
dercover aid to the anti-Sandinista
lorces with S80 million in open assis-
tance to friendly Central American
nations to combat leftist gun-run-
ning.
A House vote on the measure is
expected in the week beginning July
25. The vote will follow a debate in One source said the CIA was now
open session. preparing a. plan for between 12,000
Speaker Thomas P. O'Neill Jr. (D., and 15,000 men - as much as twice
Mass.), talking to reporters after a the size of the leftist guerrilla army
closed Democratic caucus on the is- fighting in nearby El Salvador.
sue, predicted. "a very .close vote.' - Asked about the reports, CIA
House Majority Leader Jim Wright ispokeswoman Kathryn Riedel said,
(D., Texas) said talks with adminis- `=We do not comment on allegations
,.xration. officials were -continuing in 'of covert activities."
an effort -"to -seek some -common- -Rep. Bill Alexander (D, Ark),
ground ?and to narrow our differ. thief deputy majority whip of the
ences. -House, said he believed the figures
In related developments, intelli were "fairly accurate:"
genre sources said the CiA, already- "I fear we are seeing ominous signs
overspending its 519 million budget ."of a sleazy policy of simple-minded
for assistance-to Nicaraguan counter- deception," Alexander told the
revolutionaries,-was planning to House. "The administration is poised
back an even larger army. - '~ to -escalate a dangerous course -of
The sources, wbo-spoke on condi- intervention in Central America."
tion that they not be identified, said.: ? "This policy will result in wide-
the CIA had exceeded its budget be- spread bloodshed in the region," be
cause the rebel force bad grown to said.
about 10,000 men, twice the anticipat. Sen. Richard- Lugar (R., Ind.). a
ed number. :-member of the Senate Foreign Rela-
tions Committee and the Senate Se-
lect -Committee on Intelligence, said,
in .an. interview on the CBS radio
program "Capitol Cloakroom" that
be was "not in a position to confirm
-or deny" the reports.
He added, however, "The general
assertion by the White House that we
are not attempting to overthrow the
government of Nicaragua is correct"
He supported the administration's
contention that it was trying to halt
the flow of weapons and supplies
from Cuba and the Soviet Union
through Marxist-controlled Nicara-
gua to the rebels in El Salvador.
An aide in the House parliamentar-
ian's office said that the last closed
session of the House was held on Feb.
25, 1980, and that the one before that
'was in July 1979. Records did not
show the subject OT these meetings,
other than - saying they dealt with
classified foreign affairs and intelli-
gence. matters.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/07/16: CIA-RDP90-00552R000403850039-1