LETTER TO JACK BROOKS FROM CLAIR E. GEORGE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP86B00338R000200330013-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 15, 2008
• Sequence Number: 13
• Publication Date: May 24, 1984
• Content Type: LETTER

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Central k*I nccAgncy
OLL 84-0480/1
2 5 MAY 1984
The Honorable Jack Brooks
Chairman
Committee on Government Operations
House of Representatives.
Washington, D.C. 20515
This is in response to your request for 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. Mr. Casey has asked me to respond on his behalf.
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. As we have previously informed your Committee by letter
dated 15 February 1984, 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.
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If you should have any further questions or if we can be
STAT of further please-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,
DISTRIBUTION:
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Clair E. George
Director, Office of Legislative Liaison
Addressee
Ex Reg
DCI
DDCI
ExDir
DDO
General Counsel
C/CCS/ICS
D/OLL
DD/OLL
LEG File: TelecorimunicationE
OLL Chrono
ROD Signer
1984)
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ROD:csh (24 May
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