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S 391 97th Congress Senate

Intelligence Identities Protection Act of 1981

Official title: A bill to amend the National Security Act of 1947 to prohibit the unauthorized disclosure of information identifying agents, informants, and sources and to dir… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: A bill to amend the National Security Act of 1947 to prohibit the unauthorized disclosure of information identifying agents, informants, and sources and to direct the President to establish procedures to protect the secrecy of these intelligence relationships.

Introduced: September 29, 1981 See on congress.gov
Armed Forces and National Security Central Intelligence AgencyClassified defense informationCrime preventionCriminal law
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Government Operations and PoliticsGovernment records, documents, and informationInformation leakingNational Security and Intelligence OperationsNational security crimes
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This bill died when the 97th Congress ended
It never became law before the 97th Congress (1981–1982) 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 18 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 18, 1982
Indefinitely postponed by Senate by Unanimous Consent.
Mar 18, 1982
Senate passed similiar measure H.R. 4 in lieu of this measure by Yea-Nay Vote. 90-6. Record Vote No: 55.
Mar 18, 1982
Considered by Senate.
Mar 17, 1982
Considered by Senate.
Mar 16, 1982
Considered by Senate.
Mar 15, 1982
Considered by Senate.
Mar 1, 1982
Considered by Senate.
Feb 25, 1982
Considered by Senate.
Dec 16, 1981
Motion to proceed to consideration of measure withdrawn in Senate.
Dec 16, 1981
Motion to proceed to consideration of measure in Senate.
Oct 6, 1981
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Regular Orders. Calendar No. 293.
Oct 6, 1981
Committee on Judiciary. Reported to Senate by Senator Denton favorably with amendments. With written report No. 97-201.
Oct 6, 1981
Committee on Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
Jun 24, 1981
Subcommittee on Security and Terrorism. Measure without amendments to full committee.
May 8, 1981
Subcommittee on Security and Terrorism. Hearings held.
Feb 5, 1981
Referred to Subcommittee on Security and Terrorism.
Feb 3, 1981
Read second time and referred to Senate Committee on Judiciary.
Feb 3, 1981
Introduced in Senate
 Amendments to this bill 5

Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.

2 agreed to 1 failed 2 pending / other

AmendmentSponsorPurposeStatusLatest action
SAMDT 1,339 – In the nature of a substitute. Failed Mar 18, 1982
SAMDT 1,256 – To describe criminal liability for the disclosure of certain information identifying an individual as a cover… Agreed to Mar 17, 1982
SUAMDT 829 – Expressing the sense of the Senate that the Congress strongly supports the President's decision to prohibit i… Withdrawn Mar 17, 1982
SUAMDT 828 – – Pending Mar 17, 1982
SUAMDT 823 – To strike out section 603, relating to procedures for establishing cover for intelligence officers and employ… Agreed to Mar 1, 1982
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 Latest action March 18, 1982

Indefinitely postponed by Senate by Unanimous Consent.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Intelligence Identities Protection Act of 1981 - Amends the National Security Act of 1947 to establish criminal penalties for any person who knowingly discloses information which identifies a U.S. covert intelligence agent.

Establishes a maximum penalty of ten years' imprisonment and/or a $50,000 fine for any person who, having had authorized access to classified information which identifies a covert agent, learns the identity of a covert agent and intentionally discloses such information.

Establishes a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment and/or a $25,000 fine for any person who, having had authorized access to classified information, learns the identity of a covert agent and intentionally discloses such information.

Establishes a maximum penalty of three years' imprisonment and/or a $15,000 fine for any person who, in the course of a "pattern of activities intended to identify" covert agents and with "reason to believe" that such activities would impair U.S. foreign intelligence activities, discloses information identifying an agent.

Directs the President to establish procedures requiring Federal agencies to provide assistance in concealing the identity of U.S. intelligence agents.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HR 4 Related bill Intelligence Identities Protection Act of 1982
 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Republican 1
R
Grassley, Chuck
Iowa · Sep 29, 1981
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 391: Intelligence Identities Protection Act of 1981. 97th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/97-S-391/
MLA
"S. 391: Intelligence Identities Protection Act of 1981." 97th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/97-S-391/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 391, 97th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/97-S-391/.
Markdown link
[S. 391: Intelligence Identities Protection Act of 1981](https://openamerica.io/bill/97-S-391/)
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