CIA LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-01826R000900090004-4
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 16, 2002
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: October 28, 1957
• Content Type: MF

OGC H ~ eviewed
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MEMORANDUM FOR: CIA Career Council
THROUGH: Deputy Director (Support) /s/ LKW 29 Oct. 57
SUBJECT: CIA Legislative Proposals
1. The purpose of this memorandum is to present to the Career
Council additional considerations which have arisen since the preparation
of our legislative proposals on 21 March 1957 (TAB A), in order to obtain
an expression from the Council on the desirability or wisdom of seeking
additional legislation at this time. In this respect, the responses of
the Bureau of the Budget, the Civil Service Commission and the Comptroller
General, as well as the current policy of the Administration and the
Congress are important factors in the development of our legislative
position. For the purposes of this memorandum, we will consider our
proposal for liberalized retirement benefits and our other legislative
proposals separately.
2. Most of our legislative proposals represent efforts on the
Agency's part to obtain clear-cut legislative authority to back up internal
legal and policy decisions which have been based upon reasoned legislative
intent, legal interpretation of existing authorities and the adoption of
authorities granted other Government departments in similar circumstances.
(A summary of these actions, by programs) is contained in TAB B.) In
addition, many of these proposals are contained in similar general
legislative provisions which are under consideration by the Administration
and which, if enacted, would include this Agency. This latter group
includes: educational benefits for dependents, including travel; payment
of the cost of storage of household effects; home leave benefits; additional
procurement authorities and medical benefits for dependents, including
travel.
3. The Bureau of the Budget has advised the Agency that, at the
present time, they cannot predict whether the Administration will present
its legislative program for increased employee benefits to the Congress
when it reconvenes; however, they have given us an informal expression
concerning the bulk of our proposals. The Bureau and the Civil Service
Commission are sympathetic to our needs and legislative proposals, but
the Bureau is of the opinion that CIA will have a difficult time if it
tries to obtain separate legislation for these benefits. They feel that
if the Congress is favorably disposed toward such legislation, the best
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chance of obtaining it will be by general legislation, submitted in the
Administration's legislative program. If Congress is not so disposed,
they feel that CIA has little chance of success on its own. In addition,
the Commission is a strong advocate of uniform general legislation on
personnel matters and frowns upon any department's seeking individual
legislation.
4. Thus far, the Comptroller General has taken a liberal attitude
toward our internal action in adopting the programs and authorities of
other Government departments through administrative determination under
our broad legislative authority. Some of our congressional contacts
have encouraged us to "stretch" our existing authorities as far as possible
rather than seek additional legislation.
5. Insofar as our retirement proposals are concerned, a different
situation exists. Although the Bureau of the Budget and the Civil Service
Commission both favor some form of special consideration to civilian
employees of the Government who have served for long periods in foreign
countries and who in effect have made a career of service overseas, they
arc not in favor of the retirement proposal as submitted by the Agency.
Exception is taken to our proposal both in substance and in form. As in
other personnel matters, the Commission favors a uniform retirement plan
for all civilian employees serving long periods overseas. In addition,
the Commission views our proposal as too liberal unless particular
circumstances attach to particular assignments. They also feel that any
such liberalized retirement plan should be integrated into a selection-
out program, such as the program delineated in the Foreign Service Act.
(A summary of the Commission's position on our retirement proposals is
contained in TAB C.) Again, the Bureau of the Budget feels that our best
chance of success is by means of general legislation for all civilian
Government employees serving overseas, unless the Agency can justify a
special provision for a special class of employees or type of assignment.
6. It is suggested that priority consideration be given to the
retirement proposal, for if we are to pursue this legislation, considerable
discussion and some revision will be required.
7. With respect to the balance of our legislative program it is
recommended that no action be taken unless: (i) the Administration
eliminates similar general legislation from its program and, (2) we have
reason to expect a more favorable reaction from the Congress than is now
indicated.
JOHN S. WARNER
Legislative Counsel
Attachments - 3
'T'abs A. B, & C
Gordon M. Stewart
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