; and (4) by adding at the end the following new subsections: (i) Oversight by Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict shall have primary responsibility within the Office of the Secretary of Defense for oversight of policies and programs authorized by this section. (j) Construction of authority Nothing in this section may be construed to constitute authority to conduct, or provide statutory authorization for, any of the following: (1) Execution of operational activities. (2) A covert action, as such term is defined in section 503(e) of the National Security Act of 1947 ( 50 U.S.C. 3093(e) ). (3) An introduction of the armed forces, (including the introduction of United States Armed Forces as such term is defined in section 8(c) of the War Powers Resolution ( 50 U.S.C. 1547(c) )), into hostilities, or into situations where hostilities are clearly indicated by the circumstances, without specific statutory authorization within the meaning of section 5(b) of such Resolution ( 50 U.S.C. 1544(b) ). (4) Activities or support for activities, directly or indirectly, that are inconsistent with the laws of armed conflict. (k) Operational preparation of the environment defined In this section, the term operational preparation of the environment means the conduct of activities in likely or potential operational areas to set conditions for mission execution. . 1395. Modification of initiative to support protection of national security academic researchers from undue influence and other security threats Section 1286 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 ( 10 U.S.C. 4001 note) is amended— (1) in subsection (c)— (A) by redesignating paragraphs (7) through (9) as paragraphs (8) through (10), respectively