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HR 1788 100th Congress House

Defense Black Programs Oversight Act

Official title: A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to improve congressional oversight of defense programs treated in a manner designed to conceal the existence or s… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to improve congressional oversight of defense programs treated in a manner designed to conceal the existence or scope of the program (commonly referred to as "black programs").

Introduced: June 17, 1987 See on congress.gov
Armed Forces and National Security Congress and Members of CongressCongressional oversightDefense budgetsEconomics and Public FinanceFederal budgets
This bill died when the 100th Congress ended
It never became law before the 100th Congress (1987–1988) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Oct 27, 1987
Unfavorable Executive Comment Received From DOD.
Mar 30, 1987
Referred to Subcommittee on Research and Development.
Mar 30, 1987
Executive Comment Requested from DOD.
Mar 25, 1987
Referred to House Committee on Armed Services.
Mar 25, 1987
Introduced in House
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 Latest action October 27, 1987

Unfavorable Executive Comment Received From DOD.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Defense Black Programs Oversight Act - Directs the Secretary of Defense to submit to the defense committees of the House of Representatives and of the Senate, at the same time each year as the President's annual budget is submitted, an unclassified report setting forth the total amount requested for special access programs of the Department of Defense (a program of the Department that is designated in such a manner as to conceal from public disclosure the existence or scope of the program).

Directs the Secretary, no later than November 1 of each year, to provide to specified members of the defense committees notice of and justification for such special access programs. Outlines information to be included in such notice and provides access to such information by other members of the committees. Requires the Secretary to respond to any questions or concerns raised by any such committee member within 30 days.

Directs the Secretary to notify the defense committees of any changes in the criteria used for making special access program designations no later than 30 days before such changes are to take effect.

Requires the total amount requested and appropriated for the previous five fiscal years for such special access programs to be included in the first report to the committees required under this Act.

Directs the Secretary, no later than 60 days after the enactment of this Act, to submit to the defense committees a report on the criteria used for designating a program of the Department of Defense as a special access program.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1788: Defense Black Programs Oversight Act. 100th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-1788/
MLA
"H.R. 1788: Defense Black Programs Oversight Act." 100th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-1788/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1788, 100th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-1788/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1788: Defense Black Programs Oversight Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-1788/)
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