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Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1984

Public Law 98-215 · H.R. 2968 · 98th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Dec 9, 1983 · Armed Forces and National Security

Sponsor: Rep. Edward Boland (D-MA-2)

Cosponsors: None

Passage votes

  • HouseVoice vote
  • SenateVoice vote
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1984 - Title I: Intelligence Activities - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1984 for intelligence and intelligence-related activities in specified departments and agencies of the U.S. Government, including the Central Intelligence Agency (Agency) and the Department of Defense.

Requires the Director of Central Intelligence or the Secretary of Defense to notify the appropriate congressional committees of any intent to spend funds in excess of authorization. Prohibits reprogramming or funds transfers except in restricted circumstances.

Authorizes appropriations for the design and construction of an additional building at the Agency Headquarters.

Allows the Agency to reimburse the State of Virginia for highway improvements associated with construction at the Agency headquarters.

Authorizes appropriations for counter-terrorism activities of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Authorizes the Director of Central Intelligence to employ civilian personnel in excess of the ceiling for such personnel when necessary to the performance of important intelligence functions.

Limits the amount that may be obligated or expended for covert assistance for military operations in Nicaragua.

Requires the President to seek a prompt reconvening of the Seventeenth Meeting of Consultation of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Organization of American States (OAS). Directs the President: (1) to seek actions by the OAS and its member States to bring about compliance by Nicaragua with certain political commitments; and (2) to encourage the OAS to seek resolution of the conflicts in Central America. States that the United States shall support measures to end terrorist, subversive, or other activities aimed at the violent overthrow of the governments of countries in Central America.

Requires the President to report to the Congress by March 15, 1984, on his efforts to achieve peace and to end the flow of arms in Central America.

Title II: Intelligence Community Staff - Authorizes appropriations for the Intelligence Community Staff for FY 1984.

Establishes an end strength ceiling of 215 full-time Intelligence Community Staff employees.

Title III: Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1984 for the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability Fund.

Title IV: Administrative Provisions Related to the Central Intelligence Agency and the Intelligence Community Staff - Authorizes the Agency to determine minimum and maximum age limits for appointees to operational positions within the Agency.

Allows the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency to grant honorary awards to employees.

Amends the National Security Act of 1947 regarding the appointment of a commissioned officer of the Armed Forces as the Director of the Intelligence Community Staff.

Title V: Administrative Provisions Related to the Defense Intelligence Agency - Authorizes the Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency to provide certain benefits and allowances to military or civilian personnel of the Defense Attache System.

Title VI: General Provisions - States that the authorization of appropriations by this Act shall not constitute authority for the conduct of any intelligence activity which is not otherwise authorized by the Constitution or laws of the United States.

Allows increases in employee benefits as authorized by law.

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 28 actions.

  1. Dec 9, 1983Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 98-215.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Nov 29, 1983PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Nov 18, 1983Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report by Voice Vote.
  5. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report by Voice Vote.
  6. Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Agreed to Conference Report by Voice Vote.
  7. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House Agreed to Conference Report by Voice Vote.
  8. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference Report 98-569 Filed in House.
  9. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference Report 98-569 Filed in House.
  10. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conferees agreed to file conference report.
  11. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference committee actions: Conferees agreed to file conference report.
  12. Nov 17, 1983Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference held.
  13. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference committee actions: Conference held.
  14. Nov 15, 1983Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference held.
  15. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference committee actions: Conference held.
  16. Nov 9, 1983Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Agreed to Request for Conference and Speaker Appointed Conferees: Boland, Zablocki, Mazzoli, Mineta, Fowler, Hamilton, Gore, Stokes, McCurdy, Robinson, Whitehurst, Young (FL), Stump, Goodling, Price, Stratton, Dickinson.
  17. Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Disagreed to Senate Amendments by Unanimous Consent.
  18. Nov 3, 1983Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate insists on its amendments, asks for a conference, appoints conferees Goldwater; Garn; Lugar; Wallop; Cohen; Moynihan; Inouye; Leahy; Bentsen; Nunn.
  19. FloorFloor · Passed Senate in lieu of S. 1230 with an amendment by Voice Vote.
  20. Oct 20, 1983FloorFloor · Passed House (Amended) by Yea-Nay Vote: 243 - 171 (Record Vote No: 405).House roll call 405
  21. FloorFloor · House Agreed to Amendments Adopted by the Committee of the Whole.
  22. Oct 19, 1983FloorFloor · Rule Passed House.
  23. May 24, 1983CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Armed Services Committee
  24. May 16, 1983CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Intelligence (Permanent Select) Committee
  25. CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Armed Services Committee
  26. May 11, 1983CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Intelligence (Permanent Select) Committee
  27. CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Intelligence (Permanent Select) Committee
  28. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.