Notice it says, "keep the intelligence committees fully and currently informed of all intelligence activities, other than a covert action (as defined in section 413b(e) of this title)."
...Which leads us to Section 413b(e), which says:
(e) "Covert action" definedApparently, there's a whole lot more to intelligence activities than covert actions, such as the activities listed in 1-4 above, for example.As used in this subchapter, the term "covert action" means an activity or activities of the United States Government to influence political, economic, or military conditions abroad, where it is intended that the role of the United States Government will not be apparent or acknowledged publicly, but does not include -
(1) activities the primary purpose of which is to acquire intelligence, traditional counterintelligence activities, traditional activities to improve or maintain the operational security of United States Government programs, or administrative activities;(2) traditional diplomatic or military activities or routine support to such activities;
(3) traditional law enforcement activities conducted by United States Government law enforcement agencies or routine support to such activities; or
(4) activities to provide routine support to the overt activities (other than activities described in paragraph (1), (2), or (3)) of other United States Government agencies abroad.
The reporting requirements were not in the House bill, but the Senate Bill was reported unaimously by the Intelligence Committee, and the House agreed to the requirement (IOW: I don't see any strange political game going on- like a Dem attempt to embarasss Bush).
Icouldn't find any debate of this reporting requirement.
I did find this statement of Levin's after the Senate precursor bill (S. 1428)was reported out by Armed Services:
"S. 1428, with its associated report (S. Rept. 107-63) and classified annex, contains numerous provisions requiring the preparation and submission of various reports, reviews, studies and plans concerning all facets of U.S. intelligence activities. Many of these reporting requirements include all, or elements of, Department of Defense intelligence-related activities over which the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and Armed Services Committee share oversight. The committee believes that all relevant oversight committees should receive these important reports, and that the Department of Defense should be consulted in the conduct and preparation of such reports, reviews, studies and plans that involve Department of Defense intelligence-related activities. The committee proposes an amendment to S. 1428, as reported by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, that would clarify the requirement for consultation with appropriate defense officials and ensure that all relevant oversight committees are recipients of information on activities within their respective jurisdictions. "