EMPLOYMENT OF SPOUSES OVERSEAS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP87M01152R001001290025-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 29, 2010
• Sequence Number: 25
• Publication Date: July 1, 1985
• Content Type: MEMO

ADMINISTRATIVE - INTERNAT. t icc (TT1 V
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/29: CIA-RDP87MO1152R001001290025-7 M,VW.
Chro11a
D/Pc; -X
0 1 JUL 1985
Legislation Division
Office of Legislative Liaison
FROM: Robert W. Magee
Director of Personnel
SUBJECT: Employment of Spouses Overseas
1. This is in response to your memorandum of 19 June 1985 (OLL 85-1754/1),
indicating that Representatives Mica and Snowe (of the Subcommittee on
International Operations of the Committee on Foreign Affairs) seek this
Agency's views concerning Senator Mathias' proposed amendment to the Senate
version of the State Department Authorization bill. That amendment would
authorize the Secretary of State to design, conduct, and evaluate a pilot
project to develop a program under which qualified spouses of American
personnel assigned to U.S. missions abroad would be employed to perform
professional services for the mission(s), in lieu of or addition to working in
the local economy.
Also, we note that the Department will have to craft the
pro3ec so as to avoid any nepotism and/or conflict of interest/appearance of
impropriety problems.
3. Since the program has not yet been designed, it is difficult to judge
any more particularly its pluses and minuses or its impact upon the Agency.
obert W. Magee
OP/PA&EI (25June85)
Orig & 1 - Adse
1 - D/OP
1 - DD/Pers/EBS
1 - DD/PA&E
1 -
1 - Subject
1 - Chrono
ADMINISTRATIVE - INTERNAL USE ONLY
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/29: CIA-RDP87MO1152RO01001290025-7
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/29: CIA-RDP87M01152R001001290025-7
19 June 1985
OLL85-1754/1
Office of Legislative Liaison
Legislation Division
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 cy
regarding employee couples, which is stated in
However, I am not familiar with any particular policy regarding
the employment of spouses outside of the U.S. Government. I
would appreciate your assistance in formulating a response to
the Congressmen.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/29: CIA-RDP87M01152R001001290025-7
 j Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/29: CIA-RDP87MO1152R001001290025-7 re Registry
DAME B PA5 %U. PLNFII.- aw.I....
,IlM Cpl . M *RR WILLIAM S DRODMFEELD. M.EMwa
/ ~_ N ,AYROM F1..KYLYAwA BENJAMIN A GILMAN NFW YO.,
ROSERT J LAGOMARSINO. CAtrow
DERRr E STUDDS, MASOACWMErtm
DAN MICA 406-0-
MICHAEL 0 BARNES. MARYLAND
HOWARD WOtPE MICtWA.
GAD W CROCKRT. J.. MICwwA.
SAM GEAMPISON CDNNICTKVI
MERVYN M DYMALLY, CALIIOR.IA
TOM LAWTOS C- .o'_
PETER H KOSTMAYER hNRIrLYARIA
ROSFRT G TORRICELLI. NEW JERSn
LAWRENCE J SMITH. FLORIDA
HOWARD L BERMAN. CAUtONRI
HARRY REID NEVADA
MEL LEVINE. Ca ORRIA
EDWARD E FEIGHAN. OHIO
TED WEISS NFw YORK
GARY L. ACKERMAN. NEw YORK
BUDDY MACKAY. FLORIDA
MORRIS K UDALL ARIZONA
BOBERE GARCIA. New YORK
JIM LEACH 10.A
TOBY BOTH. WACO.I
OLYMPIA J SNOWS MAIM
HENRY J HYDE Iw.o..
GERALD S H SOLOMON. NEW YORK
DOUG SEREUTER NI.AUu
MAR, D SILJANDER MKNwAR
ED ZSCHAU C? '.o.N'.
ROSFRT K DORNAN C.L"Of.-
CHR!STOPHER H SMITH. #41W is""
CONNIE MACK ELD.m.
MICHAEL DEWINE ONID
DAN BURTON INNA*.
JOHN MCCAIN. MUDRA
JOHN J. BRADY. Is.
CHIEF OF STAR
L L1sisuim WON
$5-
$5-17. 4
l7. 4
OLL FlLC LCt,Is9- ATio
June 12, 198I, O H
Mr. William J. Casey
Director
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, D.C. 20505
Dear Mr. Casey:
Record
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.
Connrroo of the 1lnittd Mateo
Committcc on I f oreign Off airs
lonst of Rtpresrntatrots
-ashington, DE 20515
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/29: CIA-RDP87M01152R001001290025-7
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/29: CIA-RDP87MO1152RO01001290025-7
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.
Subcommittee on
International Operations
DANIEL A. MICA
Chairman
DM/OS:CWmg
Enclosures
OLPIA J. SNOWE
Ra ing Minority Member
Subcommittee on ;.
International Operations'
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/29: CIA-RDP87MO1152RO01001290025-7
 25.7802 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/29: CIA-RDP87MOl 152R001001290025-7 F085
eelved some 62 million from USIA and cc) The Secretary, of State shall undertake whom it has invested years of invalu?
other Federal agencies. the design phaur? of the pilot project upon able training and promote tecrultrnent
Other groups. such as the American enactment of this Act. He shall report to of the best-qualified people. It would
Council of Young Political Leaders the Congress by TTbruary 1. lose. on the improve morale In missions, where
and the U.S. Youth Council. Provide design of the project and plans for its imple tnentation and evaluation. jobs and careers are a leading preoocu. trips abroad for young American polls, Mr. MATHIAS. Mr. President. this IS patios.
Ica) leaders. Some individuals have a proposal to authorize a pilot project There are many openings today in
taken 20 or more trips under the aegis within the Department of State for embassies and consulates around the
of these organizations. In spite of an the better employment of the talents world. There is work to be done and
impressive board. both these or niza. of spouses of foreign service officers. spouses who are eminently qualified to
tions exist in the so-called Private do It. We need a way to get them to.
It is experimental in nature. It would
Sector Program almost entirely on be designed within the Department of tether.
Government money. State. It would look at the problems To provide a constructive solution to
My amendment will guarantee a which exist in many foreign service this problem. I would like to propose a
partnership between the private sector families that have to accommodate pilot project for Foreign Service assn.
and the U.S. Government for these ex- the American lifestyle. In which there ciates. Under this resolution, which
changes. carries no expenditure of funds, the
It is financially prudent, very moder- are often two breadwinners in the Secretary of State would be author-
ate, and will increase the taxpayers' lofamily, and the realities of life e dip- Ized to design, conduct. and evaluate a
value for the dollar. matic posts. I think It provides an program to test appropriate means of
Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, we are opportunity to study this problem and
to devise some solution to it, which increasing employment of qualified
pleased to accept this amendment. We has so far eluded us. spouses in American missions.
believe it has constructive intent. The Secretary would be asked to un
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Mr. President, the Foreign Service, dertake the design phase ' ,pf tile':
question is on agreeing to the amend- our front line of diplomats around the project upon enactment of this legisla-
meet. world, must find a way to accommo- lion reporting to Congress by Febru-
The amendment (No. 297) was date an Americn tdomestic fact-of-
r families, ary 1, 1986, on the design and on plans
agreed to. lue-to-Income, for Implementation and evaluation.
Mr. ZORINSKY. Mr. President, I The national interest of the United It is my expectation that such a
move to reconsider the vote by which States would be well served by making project would start on a small scale
i
p scat
the amendment was agreed to. more productive use of the educat
on, but develop into a more com
Mr. LUGAR. I move to lay that training, and relevant work experience but
develop Into
would attract ehen-
motion on the table. of spouses of American personnel as- f'liv ive spouses.
The motion to lay, on the table was signed to our missions abroad. confident that such a program
agreed to. Spouses face unique circumstances I am con
ould address a serious problem m
Mr. MATHIAS. Mr. President. I ask in the Foreign Service. Typically, their would ulat
unanimous consent that the amend husbands and wives are assigned to a limited costs with rfar-reaching ious fits to both the morale and the bens
ment of the Senator from North Caro- series of foreign posts, usually, in 2? f fioand t efforts
be laid aside temporarily so that I and 3-year stretches. Spouses often tiveness ts to throughout of the our dale wad p I hope my
col
may offer two amendments. have little Initial contact with the throughout leagues out she wo this amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. With- broader community in the host coun will President, he amendment has
out objection, it is so ordered. try, and by the time they may begin to Mr. submitted t t
both the distin-
Mr. h has
aesErrntrtrrr no. 298 make some contacts, they move on. been hairman of the committee
MATHIAS. Mr. President, I send Spouses often have to give up or sus- guished member and
the first amendment to the desk and Pend their own careers to accompany and led I believe they ranking chairman of haminority approved It.
ask for its immediate consideration. their husbands or wives to a foreign Mr. LUGAR. Mr. Prsidnt. indeed
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The mission. from
clerk will report. Tours abroad are separated by as- we have mended the e me Senator interest from
longtime interest
The bill clerk read as follows. signment.s in Washington, where the Maryland corn
The
The Senator from Maryland [Mr. MA- couple -plunge back into American the yen he
retry) proposes an amendment numbered Life, only to find it difficult to pull up talents e e subject for of his of spouses the amendment.
of our Am
298 stakes when the time comes to go personnel l
Mr. M.ATHIAS. Mr. President, I ask abroad again. Spouses are increasingly son are and espec espec manifold. The need to
unanimous consent that further read reluctant to leave remunerative jobs find ways in which each can have a
Ing of the amendment be dispensed and appealing career opportunities in more meaningful life and be of greater
with. the United States. - service to this country is obvious.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. With- Career opportunities for their The Senator has proceeded in a con-
out objection. it so ordered. spouses is a chief concern of new For. structive way with the pilot project
The amendment is as follows: eign Service officers, who average 31 idea. We would advocate Its support.
rrt-or seance FOR rORErcr SERVICE years of age. More than 80 percent of Mr. FELL- Mr. President, I am also
ASSOCIATES them have advanced degrees. Their familiar with the subject matter of
-bwe. -. Pi-ot Project for Foreir* !revive Asoctaua spouses also tend to have advanced de- this amendment. I think the
simply a aproach
(a) It is the sense of the Congress that the grees and careers of their own. If we adopted pilot
national interest of the United States would are to continue to attract the best project to examine its merits Is an ex-
be well served by making more productive young men and women to this vital cellent one. We would be very interest-
use in U.S. missions abroad of the resources service, then we must try to develop a ed in studying the results.
that spouses of American personnel as.
framework in which spouses of these The PRESIDING OFFICER, The
signed providea to missions abroad are qualified to officers can continue to make use of question is on agreeing to the amend-
(b) The Secretary of State is authorized to their own skills during overseas assign- went. .
design, conduct and evaluate a pilot project menus, while helping to further U.S. The amendment (No. 298) was
to test appropriate means of increasing em- Interests. agreed to.
ployment of qualified spouses of American There are striking advantages to a Mr. MATHIAS. Mr. President. 1
personnel assigned to US. 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.
t sstruc a ucattieionprom .and thtn which cost-effective, making use of valuable Mr. LUGAR. I move to lay that
work spouork experience . can train be ins used effectively relevant resources that now are being ignored motion on the table.
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.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/29: CIA-RDP87MOl 152RO01001290025-7
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/29: CIA-RDP87M01152R001001290025-7
2 6 JUN 1985
Policy Analysis and Evaluation, OP
Deputy Director of Personnel for
Employee Benefits and Services
SUBJECT: Employment of Spquses Overseas
1. Our reaction to the proposed amendment to authorize the
Secretary of State to conduct a pilot project on employment of
spouses abroad is most positive. While we have the Agency
employee couples policy as a vehicle for ensuring that Agency
working couples are able to pursue their careers even while
assigned overseas, a broader program which would allow
participation of non-Agency employed spouses to obtain employment
overseas would be even more welcome.
2. The Agency has long supported the employment of spouses
overseas as a major resource in running the day to day operation
of overseas stations. When Agency spouses have not been
available, we have often looked to the spouses of other civilian
or military government employees in the overseas community to
fill non-staff positions. This proposed program, which should
increase employment opportunities overseas, would have very
positive ramifications. It would particularly help to alleviate
our concerns in getting career-oriented working couples to accept
overseas assignments if the non-Agency spouse could have some
reasonable hope of finding meaningful professional employment at
the post of assignment. Obviously, we are assuming the
Department will run the program on a community-wide basis to
include spouses of Agency employees abroad.
3. In summary, we believe such a program has excellent merit
particularly in strengthening our ability to provide meaningful
overseas assignments for both working couples and non-Agency
spouses. We presume that the DO has also been asked for its
comments on this proposal because it impacts directly on staffing
at overseas locations.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/29: CIA-RDP87M01152R001001290025-7