BRIEFING OF REPRESENTATIVE CHARLES E. GRASSLEY FROM IOWA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81M00980R002100030007-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 2, 2004
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: August 21, 1978
• Content Type: MFR

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Approved For Release 2004/12/22 : CIA-RDP81 M0098OR002100030007-9
21. August 1978
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
SUBJECT: Briefing of Representative Charles E. Grassley
from Iowa.
1. On 16 August ERC/OGCR, and ]: briefed
Congressman Grassley, a .me ero`.the House Agriculture
Committee about CIA forecasts of foreign crop production
and potential demand for.US grain-exports. The briefing
was in response to a written request from Congressman
Grassley to the DCI (attached). We were accompanied by
a representative from the. Legislative Council
and Congressional Support-'-'Staff
2. Congressman Grassley was keenly interested in a,
detailed explanation of the methodology used to estimate
the Soviet grain crop,
lie also was
interests in avai a 1 1 y an mme ines.s of information
on Soviet grain imports from US traders. I provided a
rundown on our current estimates of world grain trade
for 1978/79--including likely Soviet import needs--and
export supplies available from our competitors. A one
hour appointment was stretched into 2 hours by questions
from the Congressman.
3. None of the Congressman's staff was present; the
highest level of information used in our discussion was
Secret/NOFORN. We reminded Congressman Grassley twice
our information was classified and sensitive sources were.
used. This became necessary when he mentioned the possi-
bility of telling farm groups, etc.
4. I feel that it would be more effective, less time
consuming for us, and possibly less chance of security
leaks if the House Agriculture Committee as a whole was
briefed periodically rather than individual member..s.'
Briefing Congressman Grassley on World and Soviet grain
developments could open "Pandora's: Box" if other Congress-
men become aware and request similar treatment.
senior e ?earc Analyst
International. Materials Division
Approved For Release 2004/12/22: CIA-RDP81 M
Attachment:
As stated
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