LETTER TO THE HONORABLE WILLIAM S. MOORHEAD, CHAIRMAN FROM RICHARD HELMS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP73B00296R000100070001-3
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 7, 2002
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: November 12, 1971
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2002/01/22: CIA-RDP73B00296R000100070g0hx -
OLC 71-1121
NOV liVi
House Co rittee on Government .rat s
?sshinton, D. C. 20 515
This is in reply to your letter of 26 October 1971 reque
information as to the degree of public participation in forma
and hearings conducted within the Executive Branch.
The function of the Central Intelligence Agency as set forth
in the National Security Act of 1947. as amended, 5O U. S. C. 402, 403,
is confined to the field of collection and production of foreign Intelligence
support of the formulation of national policy. It is not an administrative
agency and has no rule-making authority. Consequently, it conducts no
formal meetings or hearings of the type referred to In your letter.
Furthermore, it is exempted by section 6 of the Central intelligence
Agency Act of 1949, as amended, 50 U. S. C. 403(g), from the provisions
of any laws which restire the publication or disclosure of Its organization
functions.
We have no information, therefore, to furnish in response to
questionnaire.
Since rely,
'c ~+?h rd .HE-i i$
Richard Helms
Director
Distribution:
Original - Addressee
1..DCI
I -DDCI
I -FR
I'_ OLC Subject (with basic)
A0proQJdq:6rkXQWAke 2002/01/22: CIA-RDP73B00296R000100070001-3
OLC /GGC (11 November 1971)
 WILLIAM S. MOORHEAD, PA., CHAIRMAIAPproved For Release 2002/01/22: CIA-RDP73B00296R00010(~ N 4a3'
JOHN N. ERLENBORN, ILL.
JOHN E. MOSR, CALIF. PAUL N. MCCLOSKEY, JR., CALIF.
T'hREERT H. I IACDONALD, MASS. NINETY-SECOND CONGRESS
JIM WRIGHT, TEX. 225-3741
JOHN CONYERS, JR.. MICH.
BILL ALEXANDER, ARK. con rezz of the 1.ntteb tateg;
Vona of 3epreoeutatibtO
FOREIGN OPERATIONS AND GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SUBCOMMITTEE
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS
RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING, ROOM B371-B
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20515
October 26, 1971
Honorable Richard Helms
Director
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, D. C. 20505
Dear Mr. Helms:
As part of its duty to study the efficiency and. economy of
information activities at all levels of the Executive Branch of
the Federal Government, the Foreign Operations and Government
Information Subcommittee is interested in the degree of public
participation_in forma-l-.meetings and hearings conducted by Execu-
tive-tranch and other agencies.
The enclosed questionnaire is designed to elicit the in-
formation needed. by the Subcommittee. Also enclosed is a sug-
gested tabular form to be followed in answering the questionnaire.
It will be extremely helpful if the tabular form is followed, but
if it is impossible for your agency to use this form, another form
is acceptable.
If you wish to add an explanation for the necessity of any
closed meeting or hearing, please do so in the cover letter re-
turning the questionnaire answers to the Subcommittee.
Please male sure that the answers cover every bureau, branch,
division, advisory committee, commission, interdepartmental or
interagency committee, or other constituent unit of your agency.
Please return the corn leted questionnaire to the Subcommittee on
or before Decem or 15, 1 71.
Formal meetings or hearings do not include routine ad-
ministrative discussions within the agency, but each agency must
decide for itself which meetings or hearings are to he covered in
answering the questionnaire.
Approved For Release 2002/01/22 : CIA-RDP73B00296R000100070001-3
 Approved For Release 2002/01/22 : CIA-RDP73B00296R000100070001-3
Honorable Richard Helms
Page Two
October 26, 1971
If you have any questions, please telephone Mr. William G.
Phillips, Staff Director of the Foreign Operations and Government
Information Subcommittee, Code 180, ext. 3741.
With best regards,
Sincerely,
IL -
WILLIAM S. MOORHEAD
Chairman
Approved For Release 2002/01/22 : CIA-RDP73B00296R000100070001-3
otlu-k
 WILLIAM S. MOORHEAD,kpp 3.d For Release 2002/01/22 : CIA-RDP73B00296R000100070001 FWANK HORTON, N.Y.
JOHN E. MOSS, CALIF.
tORBERT H. MACDONALD, MASS. JOHN N. ERLENBORN, ILL.
JIM WRIGHT, TEX. NINETY-SECOND CONGRESS PAUL N. MCCLOSKEY, JR., CALIF.
JOHN CONYERS, JR., MICH.
BILL ALEXANDER, ARK. Con gre of the 1niteb Otateo 225-3741
3ouge of t.eprezeutatibeo
FOREIGN OPERATIONS AND GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SUBCOMMITTEE
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS
RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING, Room B371-B
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20515
QUESTIONNAIRE
Public Access to Executive Branch
Hearings and Meetings
(1) Please identify all formal meetings or hearings conducted by
your agency in connection with an agency proceeding.
(2) How frequently does the unit meet?
(3) What was the date of the most recent meeting?
(4) Specify, in each case, whether the meeting or hearing is open
to the public.
(5) In each case where the meeting is not open to the public,
state the specific statutory authority for closing the meeting to
the public.
(6) In each case where the meeting is open to the public, specify
how the time and place is made known to the public.
(7) Specify in which of the meetings or hearings a transcript is
made of the proceedings.
(8) Is the transcript available to the public following the meeting
or hearing?
(9) Specify in which of the meetings or hearings minutes are kept.
(10) Are the minutes available to the public following the meeting
or hearing?
(11) Specify which hearings or meetings are affected by the pro-
visions of Section (a) (4) of 5 U.S.C. 552.
Approved For Release 2002/01/22 : CIA-RDP73B00296R000100070001-3
 Approved For Release 2002/01/22 : CIA-RDP73B00296R000100070001-3
FOREIGN OPERATIONS AND GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SUBCOMMITTEE QUESTIONNAIRE
RE: PUBLIC ACCESS TO EXECUTIVE BRANCH HEARINGS AND MEETINGS
1. Ident.ty*_ofrlunit 2. Frequency of 3. Date of 4. Meeting 5. Statutory
conducting meeting or most or authority
formal meetings hearing recent hearing for
or hearings meeting open to closed
or public meeting or
hearing Yes No hearing
Approved For Release 2002/01/22 : CIA-RDP73B00296R000100070001-3
 Approved For Release 2002/01/22 : CIA-RDP73B00296R000100070001-3
Page 2
6. Procedure for 7. Transcript 8. Transcript 9. Minutes 10. Minutes 11. Meeting
public notice made of made kept of made or
of open meeting or available the avail- hearing
meeting or hearinj Yes No meeting able affected
hearing Yes No or Yes go by (a)(4)
hearing of 5 USC
Yes No 552
Approved For Release 2002/01/22 : CIA-RDP73B00296R000100070001-3