Intelligence Oversight Act of 1980
Latest action. See S. 2597 as passed Senate for similar provisions.
(Measure passed Senate, amended, roll call #172 (89-1)) Intelligence Oversight Act of 1980 - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to repeal the reporting requirement of the Hughes-Ryan Amendment of 1974, which conditions expenditures for Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) covert operations on the timely reporting by the President to the appropriate congressional committees. Retains the current requirement with respect to Presidential findings. Deems each covert operation a "significant anticipated intelligence activity" for the purposes of the new congressional oversight provisions established by this Act. Amends the National Security Act of 1947 to add a new title V, "Accountability for Intelligence Activities." Requires the Director of Central Intelligence and the heads of all Federal entities involved in intelligence activities to keep the congressional intelligence committees fully and currently informed of all intelligence activities, including any significant anticipated intelligence activity. Stipulates that this notice does not mean prior approval of such committees is required for initiation of intelligence activity. Permits such notice to be limited to designated Members if the President determines it is essential to meet extraordinary circumstances affecting vital U.S. interests. Requires the Director and heads of Federal entities to: (1) furnish information requested by the Select Committees on Intelligence; and (2) report in a timely fashion to such committees any illegal intelligence activity or significant intelligence failures. Directs the President to fully inform the Select Committees in a timely fashion of intelligence operation in foreign countries, other than those intended solely for obtaining intelligence, for which prior notice was not given . Requires the President and the Select Committees to establish procedures for carrying out these requirements. Directs the House of Representatives and the Senate, in consultation with the Director of Central Intelligence, to establish procedures to protect classified and intelligence information from unauthorized disclosure.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Passed Senate amended" stage on June 3, 1980. It describes the bill, it is not the legal text.
Where is it in the process, and what happens next?
2 steps remain before this bill could become law.
The record's latest action, on June 28, 1980: See S. 2597 as passed Senate for similar provisions.
- Passage by the House
- The President's signature. If the President vetoes it, two-thirds of both chambers must vote to override.
How likely is it to become law?
Civibrief does not forecast outcomes and this page has no opinion about this one. What the record supports is a base rate, which is a fact about the whole pile, not a prediction about this measure.
In the 96th Congress (1979-80), 613 of the 12,581 bills and joint resolutions introduced became law, about 4.9 percent. That count covers every measure at every stage, including the many that never left committee.
This one is not there yet: 2 steps are still outstanding, listed above.
Has anyone actually voted on it?
No. No roll call in this Congress cites this measure. That is the ordinary outcome: most measures never reach a recorded floor vote, and a committee ends most of them simply by not acting.
A vote is not the only thing that happens to a measure. Hearings, markups, and referrals are all recorded actions, and none of them is a vote of the full chamber.
Who is behind it?
WALTER HUDDLESTON (D-KY) introduced it on February 8, 1980, and 6 members have since signed on as cosponsors.
They come from both major parties: 3 Democrats, 3 Republicans.
Cosponsoring is a formal signature on the text. It is not a commitment to vote for the measure, it does not bind anyone's party, and a long list of cosponsors is a measure of attention rather than of prospects.
How long has it been in play?
It was introduced on February 8, 1980, 17016 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 16875 days ago, on June 28, 1980.
Measures do not carry over. Anything the 96th Congress has not finished by January 3, 1981 dies when the term ends, and has to be introduced again from the start in the next Congress.
Every answer above is assembled from this measure's own record on Congress.gov and from published counts of what Congress has passed before. Civibrief does not predict outcomes and takes no position on any measure.
Vote history
- SenatePassed
- HouseAwaiting House vote
- PresidentAwaits both chambers