LETTER TO WILLIAM D. FORD FROM CLAIR E. GEORGE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP86B00338R000200330011-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 15, 2008
• Sequence Number: 11
• Publication Date: May 24, 1984
• Content Type: LETTER

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Central k*%mm Agency
OLL 84-0480/2
25 MAY 1984
The Honorable William D. Ford
Chairman
Committee on Post Office and Civil Service
House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
This letter expresses the views of the Central Intelligence
Agency concerning H.R. 4620, a bill to amend the Federal
Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (FPASA) to
prohibit federal officials from monitoring or recording
telephone conversations without the consent of all parties.
As drafted, H.R. 4620 would not affect CIA activities
because the Agency is exempt from the underlying provisions of
the FPASA that would be amended by the bill. See 40 U.S.C.
S 474. Notwithstanding our statutory exemption, we have
promulgated internal regulations that protect against abuses in
connection with telephone monitoring. These procedures
authorize monitoring or recording of telephone conversations by
Agency personnel with one party's consent if conducted for
authorized intelligence purposes and with appropriate senior
approval.
Although in its current form H.R. 4620 would not have any
impact on CIA activities, the bill could adversely affect the
activities of other members of the Intelligence Community. In
this regard, I note that the Department of Justice and the
Department of Defense have written to you identifying certain
aspects of H.R. 4620 that could adversely affect the conduct of
intelligence and security programs. One important concern is
that the exemptions contained in the bill may be too narrow to
cover all necessary national security activities. Recording
and overhearing by an intelligence agency employee acting
within the scope of his employment relating to intelligence
gathering, counterintelligence activities, as well as
communications security is proper under present law and must be
allowed to continue.
Uri' C'
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If you should have any further questions or if we can be
STAT of further n e, pleasg contact me or of my
Office at
The Office of Management and Budget has advised that there
is no objection to the submission of this report from the
standpoint of the Administration's program. Thank you for the
opportunity to comment on this legislation.
Sincerely,
Is, Clair E. George
Clair E. George
Director, Office of Legislative Liaison
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