Edward Boland was a democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congressman Boland sponsored several amendments to various pieces of legislation which either partially or fully restrained the executive branch, including the military and covert operatives, from supporting the Contra rebels in Nicaragua. Boland successfully introduced three amendments, colloquially known as the Boland Amendments.
Of the three Boland Amendments, the second one is largely considered the most successful. The second Boland amendment was an amendment to the annual Defense Appropriation Act for fiscal year 1983. This amendment was successfully passed through the defense subcommittee and passed on the floor of the House unanimously.
“A substitute amendment to the Harkin amendment to prohibit the CIA or Defense Department to use funds of the bill to furnish military equipment, military training or advice, or other support for military activities, to any group or individual, not part of a country’s armed forces, for the purpose of overthrowing the government of Nicaragua or provoking a military exchange between Nicaragua and Honduras. The Harkin amendment has prohibited support of any military activity in Nicaragua.”
Source:
U.S. Congress. House. “H. Amdt. 974 (Boland Amendment)” to the Department of Defense Appropriation Act, 1983. HR 7355. 97th Cong. 2nd sess. Introduced in House December 8, 1982. https://www.congress.gov/amendment/97th-congress/house-amendment/974.