EMPLOYMENT OF SPOUSES OVERSEAS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP87M01152R001001280034-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 12, 2010
• Sequence Number: 34
• Publication Date: June 19, 1985
• Content Type: MEMO

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19 June 1985
OLL85-1754/1
Ottice ot e l
Office of Legislative Liaison
SUBJECT: Employment of Spouses Overseas
1. Congressmen Mica and Snow have requested the views of
the Agency on an amendment by Senator Mathias to the Senate
version of the State Department Authorization Act that would
authorize the Secretary of State to conduct and evaluate a
demonstration project allowing chiefs of missions abroad to
employ spouses of certain foreign service personnel to perform
professional services for the mission as well as work in the
local community. This provision has not been included in the
House version of the State Department Authorization Act which
passed the House on May 9. The Congressmen are interested in
our evaluation of the possible ramifications of this proposed
program on our overseas personnel. They would also appreciate
any recommendations we may have to make the proposal more
reflective of our concerns.
2. Enclosed for your review is a copy of the letter from
Congressmen Mica and Snow requesting our views and the Mathias
amendment. Since this particular issue will come up in the
near future in a House/Senate conference on the State
Department Authorization Bill, the congressmen need our
response as soon as possible so that they can make any
necessary changes to the proposal in the Conference.
3. I assume that our response would refle A enc olicy
regarding employee couples, which is stated in
However, I am not familiar with any particular policy regar ing
the employment of spouses outside of the U.S. Government. I
would appreciate your assistance in formulating a response to
the Congressmen.
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Distribution:
Original-Addressee
1-D/OLL
1-DD/OLL
1-OLL Chrono
1-Subject (Personnel)
1-DMP Signer
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 I Executive Registry
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H. HAMILTON. MO4ANA WILLIAM S. BROOMFIELD, MICHSAN
pU8 YATRON, ryRNEYLVANIA BENJAMIN A. GILMAN, RIM YORK
ROBERT J
pow BONKER, WAEIRNOTDR ORR JIM LEACH. IOWALAGOMARSINO, CAUNNINM
01
I PERRY E STUDDS, MAI.AC*I$ETT$ TOBY ROTH. WucoNWw
DAN MIDI FLORIDA OLYMPIA J. SNOWE, MAINE
MICHAEL P. BARNES. MARYLAND HENRY J. HYDE, ILUNOIE
HOWARD WOLPE, MICHHWI GERALD B.H. SOLOMON. NEw YORK
GEO W CROCKETT, JR.. MICHIGAN DOUG BEREVTER. NEERAEKA
SAM GEJDENSON. CONNECTICUT MARK P. SILJANDER. MICNIOAN
MERVYN M DYMALLY, CALIFORNIA ED ZSCHAU. CALIFORNIA
TOM LANTOS. CAU,O IIA ROBERT K. DORNAN, CAUFORRIA
PETER H. KOSTMAYER. PENNEYLVANU CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, Maw Jan"
ROBERT G. TORRICELU. NEW JvsoY CONNIE MACK, FLORIDA
LAWRENCE J. SMITH. FLORIDA MICHAEL DEWINE, OHIO
HOWARD L BERMAN. CAUFORNN DAN BURTON. INDIANA
HARRY REID, NEVADA JOHN MCCAIN, ARIZONA
MEL LEVINE. CAUPORNIA
EDWARD F. FEIGHAN, OHIO
TED WEISS.NEW YORK
GARY L ACKERMAN, NEw YORK
BUDDY MACKAY. FLORIDA
MORRIS K. UDALL ARIZONA
ROBERT GARCIA. NEW YORK
JOHN J. BRADY. JR.
CHIEF OF STAFF
85- 2419
Congress of the United Matto
Committee on f orci n 3.fffirs
i.ouse of Igresentatines
iashinnton, DO: 2__5
IE6dSLATIVI UAM
$5 -17 54
O LL H L I E Lt G IS I- A 71 O IV
June 12, 198R;pt # y_
Mr. William J. Casey
Director
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, D.C. 20505
Record
Dear Mr. Casey:
Enclosed is a copy of a draft bill which would require the
Secretary of State to conduct and evaluate a demonstration
project allowing chiefs of missions abroad to employ spouses of
certain foreign service personnel to perform professional
services for the mission as well as work in the local community.
This proposed legislation may soon be introduced as an amendment
to the Senate bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal years
1986 and 1987 for the Department of State, the U.S. Information
Agency, and the Board for International Broadcasting. As the
State Department authorization legislation which passed the House
on May 9th did not include this language, we are requesting your
agency's evaluation of this proposal prior to its becoming a
conference issue.
We understand that the proposal means to address the problem
of the two-career family. A spouse of a career foreign service
officer, who has professional credentials and who may wish to
,continue working while overseas, currently has little opportunity
to find such employment. As your agency is also an active
partner with our foreign. service personnel at embassies abroad,
we are interested in your evaluation of the possible
ramifications of this proposed program on your overseas personnel
as well. Your comments would help us to become aware of any
potential problems associated with such a spousal employment
program. We would also appreciate any recommendations to make
the proposal more reflective of your agency's concerns.
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Mr. William J. Casey
June 12, 1985
We appreciate your assistance in this matter, and apologize
for the short time frame in which we will need your response.
ncerely,
DANIEL . MICA OL PIA J. SNOWE
Chairman Ra ing Minority Member
Subcommittee on Subcommittee on
International Operation's
DM/OS:CWmg
Enclosures
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ccived some :2 million from USIA and th(c) The F
e design phase of the pilot pr 1 undertake
able training and promote recruitment
other groups, c:. enactment of this Act. He shall report to of the best-qualified people. It would
Other er groupss, , such as the American the Congress by FRebruary 1, lose, on the improve morale in missions. where
Council of Young Political Leaders design of the project and plans for Its imple? jobs and careers are a leading preoecu?
and the U.S. Youth Council, provide mentation and evaluation. patioft.
trips abroad for young American polit Mr. MATHIAS. Mr. President, this is There are many openings today in
under the proposal to authorize a pilot project embassies and consulates around the
ical taken rs. more Some individuals
Laken ar more trips undder the aegis within the Department of State for world. There is work to be done and
of these se organizations. In spite of an the better employment of the talents spouses who are eminently qualified to
impressive board. both these organize- of spouses of foreign service officers. do it. We need a way to get them to-
tions exist In the so-called Private it is experimental in nature. It would gether.
Sector Program almost entirely on be designed within the Department of To provide a constructive solution to
Government . State. It would look at the problems this problem. I would like to propose a
My amendment.ment will guarantee a which exist in many foreign service pilot project for Foreign Service lasso.
partnership between the private sector families that have to accommodate ciates. Under this resolution, which
and the U.B. Government for these ex- the American lifestyle. in which there carries s no, expenditure of funds, the
Changes. are often two breadwinners in the carre n of State would be author-
It is laie very modes' family, and the realities of life on dip- lzed to design, conduct, and evaluate a
ate, and d will increase the taxpayers' lomatic posts. I think it provides an program to test appropriate means of
value for the dollar. opportunity to study this problem and increasing employment of qualified
Mr. LUGAR. Mr. this amendment. ede to devise some solution to It, which spouses In American missions.
pleased to accept this W We has so far eluded us. The Secretary would be asked to un-
believe it has constructive intent. Mr. President, the Foreign Service.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The our front line of diplomats around the dertake the design phase pf the ,
project upon enactment of this legisla-
question is on agreeing to the amend- world, must find a way to accommo- Won reporting to Congress by Febru-
ment. date an American domestic fact-of ~, 1986, on the design and on plans &ry
The amendment (No. 297) was life-two-Income, two-career families. for implementation and evaluation.
agreed to. The national Interest of the United It is my expectation that such a
Mr. ZORINSKY. Mr. President, I
use of the education, project would start on a small scale
move to reconsider the vote by which mare would
the amendment was agreed to. but develop into a more comprehen-
Mr. LUGAR. I move to lay that training. and relevant work experience sive program that would attract quali-
motion on the table. of spouses of American personnel as- fied spouses.
The motion to lay on the table was signed to our missions abroad. I am confident that such a program
agreed to. Spouses face unique circumstances would address a serious problem at
Mr. MATHIAS. Mr. President, I ask in the Foreign Service. Typically, their limited costs with far-reaching bene-
unanimous consent that the amend- husbands and wives are assigned to a fits to both the morale and the effec-
ment of the Senator from North Caro- series of foreign posts, usually in 2- iveness of our diplomatic efforts
lina be laid aside temporarily so that I and 3-year stretches. Spouses often throughout the world. I hope my col
may offer two amendments. have little initial contact with the leagues will support this amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. With- broader community in the host coon- Mr. President, the amendment has
out objection, it is so ordered. try, and by the time they may begin to been submitted to both the distin-
axENDnEM No. ttae ' make some contacts, they move on. guished chairman of the committee
Mr. MATHIAS. Mr. President, I send Spouses often have to give up or sus- and the ranking minority member and
the first amendment to the desk and pend their own careers to accompany I believe they have approved it.
indeed
their husbands or wives to a foreign President
Mr
AR
,
?
ask for its immediate consideration. Mr LVG
. The PRESIDING OFFICER- The mission. we have commended the Senator from
clerk will report. Tours abroad are separated by as Maryland for his longtime interest in
The bill clerk read as follows: signments in Washington, where the the subject of the amendment. The
The Senator from Maryland IMr. Me- couple -plunge back into American talents of spouses of foreign service
TstAsl proposes an amendment numbered Life, only to find it difficult to pull up personnel and especially of our Am-
298 stakes when the time comes to g? bassadors are manifold. The need to
Mr. MATHIAS. Mr. President, I ask abroad again. Spouses are increasingly find ways in which each can have a
unanimous consent that further read- and reluctant n~ ge career remunerative so s more meaningful life and be of greater
ing of the amendment be dispensed service to this country is obvious.
The Senator has proceeded in a con
with. the United States.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. With. Career opportunities for their ive way with the pilot project
out objection, It so ordered. spouses is a chief concern of new For- structive tru. We would advocate its of proj
The amendment is as follows: eign Service officers, who average 31 Me t o Mr vocse its SUP I o t.
PILOT PROJECT FOR FOREIGN SERVICE years of age. More than 80 percent of familiar with the subject matter of
ASSOCIATES them have advanced degrees. Their ment. I think the approach
opted amendhma with simply a approach
.. , Pilot P.okd fa F?etrr S.r.tct AuoetaIe spouses also tend to have advanced de- this
(a) it is the sense of the Congress that the grees and careers of their own. If we ad Pilot
national interest of the United States would are to continue to attract the best project one. examine be very inaerest-
be well served by making more productive young men and women to this vital ce a stone. the would be
use in U.S. missions abroad of the resources service. then we must try to develop a ed in The PRESIDING: OFFICER. The
that spouses of American personnel as- framework in which spouses of these
signed to missions abroad are qualified to officers can continue to make use of question is on agreeing to the amend
provide. went. .
(bl The Secretary of State is authorized to their own skills during overseas assign
design, conduct and evaluate a pilot project ments, while helping to further U.S. stg eed tamendment (No. 298) was
to test appropriate means of increasing em- Interests.
PIG)- went of qualified spouses of American There are striking advantages to a Mr. MATHIAS. Mr. President, I personnel assigned to U.S. missions. The well-designed program that would move to reconsider the vote by which
intent of the pilot project shall be to con- achieve these objectives. It would be the amendment was agreed to.
struct a feasible program within which cost-effective, making use of valuable Mr. LUGAR. I move to lay that
spouses- education. training and relevant resources that now are being ignored motion on the table.
work experience can be used effectively
within the mission and in the furthering of or underutilized. It would help the The motion to lay on the table was
U.S. interests in the host country. Foreign Service retain personnel in agreed to.
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