LETTER TO DCI FROM CHAIRMAN GEORE MCGOVERN (D., S. DAK.), SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS, DATED OCTOBER 3, 1978

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81M00980R002300050009-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Sequence Number: 9
• Content Type: MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD

Approved For Release 2006/07/27: CIA-RDP81 M009bk0C~ ~XO 'ODC@
OLC 78-5402/2
13 October 1978
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
SUBJECT: Letter to DCI from Chairman George McGovern (D.,S. Dak.),
Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on International
Operations, dated October 3, 1978
1. Since Senator McGovern's letter specifically and
exclusively relies upon Section 15(b) of the Act of
August 1, 1956, as amended (P.L. 92-226 Section 407(b),
22 U.S.C. 2680(B)), it is significant that Section 15(b)
was modified during its legislative processing for the
purpose of removing from its purview certain sensitive
foreign intelligence activities. While the McGovern letter
issues are not necessarily solely resolvable by interpretation
of Section 15(b), such interpretation does become a constructive
stepping-stone for resolution.
2. Attachment B sets forth the language formulation for
Section 15(b) as reported out by the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee on 21 October 1977, as amended on the floor of the
Senate on 29 October 1971 (underscored language) and as finally
agreed to by Conference Committee on 17 December 1971 at the
insistence of the House (double underscored language deleted/
added).
3. In summary, the provision was narrowed to accommodate
the jurisdictional claim of the Chairman of the CIA oversight
committee and, further narrowed with respect to the activities
conducted abroad by non-State agencies. This deliberate and
progressive diminution of scope, it is argued exempts from
15(b) sensitive intelligence activities of the CIA especially
those conducted abroad, leaving the oversgl-L~ jurisdiction for
those activities within the intelligencp,''ove sight committees,
then the Armed Services Committee and,rtow tie Select Committees.
eput Legislative ,ounse
Approved For Release 2006/07/27: CIA-RDP81 M00980R002300050009-3