The Nation - News from May 13, 1988

The House Intelligence Committee, moving to implement reforms urged by the Iran-Contra investigators, approved a bill requiring that Congress be notified promptly about covert intelligence actions, the committee announced. The bill would require that Congress be notified prior to the commencement of a covert action, except in certain rare instances but in no event later than 48 hours after the action has been approved by the President. Current law requires prior notification, but permits notice “in a timely fashion” in some cases. A similar bill was passed by the Senate on March 15.