LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES - 91ST CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP73B00296R000100010166-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 20, 2001
• Sequence Number: 166
• Publication Date: January 20, 1970
• Content Type: MFR

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20 January 1970
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
SUBJECT: Legislative Activities - 91st Congress, First Session
1. Review of Legislation. One of the functions of the Office of
Legislative Counsel is to screen legislation introduced into the Congress
to identify measures of interest for appropriate action.
a. In this connection in excess of 21, 000 bills and
resolutions were introduced in the 91st Congress, First
Session. Of these about 1, 400 were the subject of committee
reports and a smaller number were passed by either or
both Houses.
b. In addition, we replied to three requests from congres-
sional committees and thirteen requests from the Bureau of the
Budget for Agency views on proposed legislation.
2. Retirement.
a. The Agency Retirement Act was once again an item of
leading interest. A number of proposed amendments, many
carried over from the 89th and 90th Congresses, were
recommended by the Director of Personnel. Most of the
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proposed amendments merely bring our Act into line with
post 1964 amendments to the Civil Service retirement
system.
b. A draft amendment, which would permit the Director
to adopt for the CIA system certain post 1964 amendments
to the Civil Service system, thus avoiding the necessity of
seeking specific amendments to the CIA Retirement Act to
keep pace with the Civil Service system, was looked upon with
favor by Roger Jones, Assistant Director (Personnel Policies),
Bureau of the Budget. Mr. Jones initiated informal clearance
within BOB and the Civil Service Commission. Senior staff
members of our Committees recommended against this approach
at the present time so we didn't push it.
c. Substantial liberalizing amendments were approved for
the Civil Service system during the first session (the third
successive Congress in which this has happened since passage
of the CIA Act in 1964). In view of the overriding importance
to the viability of the CIA system, we limited our legislative
proposal to the identical amendments which had been approved
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by the 91st Congress for the Civil Service retirement system.
Our proposal cleared the Bureau of the Budget on 23 October
1969, three days after the President had approved the Civil
Service Retirement Act amendments; was the subject of
hearings before the House Armed Services Committee
(Committee staff member made the presentation) on 18 November
1969; was favorably reported the same date; and approved by
the House on 1 December 1969. The bill was considered in
executive session before the Senate Armed Services Committee
(Committee staff member made the presentation) on 19 December
and reported out; and then approved by the Senate on 22 December
1969. It was signed by the President on 30 December 1969
(P. L. 91-185).
d. In its clearance letter BOB imposed a requirement on
the Agency to forward a plan on how the Agency proposed to fund
"normal costs" and "unfunded liability" under the CIA retirement
system. The report is due following completion of an acturarial
study now in progress. It is possible that the Agency's report
may involve a need for legislation. In addition to any such
legislation, there is the question of other changes in the Act
which the Director of Personnel probably will want to recommend.
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e. At the start of the 91st Congress HEW requested our
comments for inclusion in a report for the House Ways and
Means and Senate Finance Committees on the desirability of
more closely relating Federal Staff Retirement systems to
Social Security. We recommended that the CIA Retirement
Act be included along with the Civil Service and Foreign
Service retirement systems in the related legislative
proposals- -minimum guaranteed benefits and transfer of
credit. This is now a dead issue as the result of comparable
legislation approved for the Civil Service, CIA, and Foreign
Service systems during the 91st Congress.
4. Unauthorized disclosure. The Agency, without attributign,
floated a proposed amendment to the Internal Security Act to tighten up
on the unauthorized disclosure of classified information. The proposal
did get to the House Committee (Internal Security) having legislative
jurisdiction, but as yet it has not been introduced in bill form.
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6. Joint Intelligence Committee. Three Joint Committee bills
were introduced (fewer than in the past). None are active. Sponsors
include old standbys Clement Zablocki (D., Wis.) and William F. Ryan
(D., N. Y.) and newcomer Senator John G. Tower (R., Texas), whose
bill embraces all areas of national security, including intelligence.
7. Funding of private organizations. Legislative interest in the
funding of private organizations has abated somewhat. H. R. 591 by
Ryan prohibits the Agency from contributing funds to domestic organi-
zations and is bottled up in House Armed Services Committee. Ryan
and Zablocki have introduced bills providing for an American Council
for International Exchange and an Institute for International Affairs to
promote private U. S. participation in international organizations and
movements which were referred to the Foreign Affairs Committee.
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Senator Ralph Yarborough (D., Texas) introduced a related bill which
contains a provision against intelligence gathering which could effect
STATINTL the collection efforts of During the 90th Congress,
in connection with a similar bill, the Subcommittee staff felt that they
could adjust the wording to meet our interest. Senator Peter H.
Dominick (R., Colo.), who is on the Committee on Labor and Public
Welfare which would consider the bill, volunteered to help us with
the matter. None of the bills are active, however.
8. Congressional reform is not dead and with the advent of the
computer it will be only a matter of time before-a detailed study of the
annual budget is within congressional capability. This area continua?--,
to be closely watched against the possibility of either penetrating the
security of our appropriations procedures or impairing our existing
statutory protection against budget disclosures.
9. Government procurement. A legislative item of long standing,
a Government Procurement Commission was finally approved (P. L. 91-129).
The Commission will investigate the procurement statutes and policies
followed by all Government agencies, and is authorized to acquire infor-
mation from agencies "to the extent permitted by law.
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10. The Ervin bill relating to constitutional rights of Federal
employees was once again introduced as S. 782 with 53 cosponsors.
The bill is identical to S. 1035 as it passed the Senate during the
90th Congress with certain exemptions for CIA, NSA, and FBI on
polygraph and psychological testing. Senator Ervin is having trouble
getting the measure reported out of his own Subcommittee. In response
to his request for such further modification as we might recommend,
we sent him suggested amendments. No further word has been heard.
On the House side Chairman Henderson is still friendly p.nd says he
will protect our interests.
11. Credit reports. A measure assuring rights to privacy in
credit reporting procedures may pose a problem for Security in
securing certain information now obtained from credit bureaus.
Security is contacting FBI and Civil Service Commission for their
position and is drawing up a recommended Agency position. The bill
was reported out of Senate committee 5 November; passed the Senate
the following day; and has been referred to House Banking and
Currency Committee, but has not been assigned to a specific sub-
committee.
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12. General. A number of inactive bills have been identified as
being of potential interest to the Agency and are being watched.
STATINTL
ssistarit Legislative Counsel
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