SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE ACTION ON THE MILITARY PROCUREMENT AUTHORIZATION BILL

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP72-00337R000400110044-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 26, 2006
• Sequence Number: 44
• Publication Date: July 16, 1970
• Content Type: MF

Approved For Release 2006/07/28: CIA-RDP72-00337R000400.1-1,i
UIL
16 July 1970
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence
Senate Armed Services Committee Action
on the Military Procurement Authorization
Bill
1. With reference to your question at the morning meeting, the
following are some highlights of the Senate Armed Services Committee's
action on the Military Procurement Bill (H. R. 17123) provision authorizing
funds for free world forces in support of Vietnamese forces:
a. Section 502 of the bill provides that "(a)(1) Not to
exceed f the funds authorized for appropriation
for the use of the Armed Forces of the United States under this
or any other Act are authorized to be made available for their
stated purposes to support: (A) Vietnamese and other free
world forces in support of Vietnamese forces, (B) local forces
in Laos and Thailand; and for related costs, during the fiscal
year 1971 on such terms and conditions as the Secretary of
Defense may determine. "
b. Since 1966 the annual Military Procurement Bill
has authorized the use of funds in support of free world forces
in Vietnam. H. R. 17123 passed the House in this form.
c. In reporting out the bill the Senate Armed Services
Committee expressed its support of the President's action in
using this authority in the 1970 act in border sanctuary operations
in Cambodia, but noted that doubt had been expressed as to
whether the words "in Vietnam" provided sufficient authorization
for this type of action. To avoid any misunderstanding the
Committee changed that language to "in support of Vietnamese
forces. "
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d. The Committee report makes it clear that use of
the authority is to be limited to border sanctuary and related
operations in Cambodia and the protective reaction strikes
in these locations.
e. Ed Braswell says that the Committee received no
suggestions from the Defense Department in response to a
request to DOD for substitute language to that contained in the
original bill. The Pentagon presumably chose to place its
reliance on the words 11... on such terms and conditions as
the Secretary of Defense may determine. "
f. The Committee's action is an attempt to provide a
broader statutory base for possible future military action
(such as the recent operation into Cambodia) without creating
too much of a stir among Senate doves.
2. Ed Braswell also told me that Senator Stennis is in a quandary
about a CIA briefing. He is reluctant to have a briefing of the full Com-
mittee with Senators Stephen Young and Edward Brooke present and also
is reluctant to call a meeting of the Armed Services CIA Subcommittee
since he apparently feels that this is a prerogative of Senator Russell
which he does not want to assume. In addition, he feels that a meeting
of the CIA Subcommittee would be solely for the benefit of Senators
Murphy and Dominick as he feels that he, Senator Symington and Senator
Jackson get such information as they need on an individual basis.
Acting Legislative Counsel
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Approved For Release 2006/07/28: CIA-RDP72-00337R000400110044-5