TESTIMONY OF THE DIRECTOR OF PERSONNEL ON H.R. 5805 THE MAZZOLI FORMER SPOUSE BILL

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90B01370R001501930036-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 7, 2008
• Sequence Number: 36
• Publication Date: October 18, 1984
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Release 2008/11/07: CIA-RDP90B01370R001501930036-4 (bpJcs
&,C,W-3R(g (
OLL 84-3.6 W
18 October 1984
SUBJECT: Testimony of the Director of Personnel on
H.R. 5805, the Mazzoli Former Spouse Bill
1. On 12 September 1984 at 10:00, the Subcommittee on
Legislation of the House Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence held a closed hearing on H.R. 5805, Chairman
Mazzoli's bill to provide retirement benefits to former CIARDS
spouses. In his opening statement, Chairman Mazzoli indicated
that the 1982 Spousal Equity Act recognized the special service
that CIARDS spouses performed. However, this 1982 act applied
prospectively and consequently created an inequity with regard
to CIARDS spouses divorced prior to 1982. Following Mazzoli's
open statement, Representative Pat Schroder (D-Colorado.) gave
a brief statement to the effect that the 1982 spousal
legislation was only a partial solution and that Mazzoli's bill
was an appropriate remedy for the inequities of the 1982 act.
Representative Schroder noted similar legislation for Foreign
Service former spouses had been proposed in H.R. 5598.
2. Following Representative Schroder, Jack Blake, former
DDA and former Staff Director for the SSCI, testified.
Mr. Blake agreed that the principle had already been
established that CIARDS former spouses deserved the relief
contained in the spousal legislation. Mr. Blake stressed two
additional points. First, most of the CIA's spouses who were
divorced prior to 1982 would be those spouses who had served on
comparatively difficult tour of duties such as Viet Nam.
Second, the sanitary and health conditions around the world
prior to 1982 were much worse than they are now. As a
consequence, Mr. Blake felt that the health benefits provision
in H.R. 5805 is necessary for CIARDS former spouses. Chairman
Mazzoli asked whether as a tax payer Mr. Blake would have a
problem with seeing Government funds expended in the fashion
contemplated in H.R. 5805. Mr. Blake responded that he would
not have a problem. In his estimation, it was a question
either the grant contemplated under H.R. 5805 or welfare for
many of these CIA former spouses.
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C O N F I D E N T I A L
3. Following Mr. Blake, a panel of CIA former spouse
representatives testified. The panel consisted of
former spouses fulfill their trust and remain loyal citizens
despite the disadvantages hey accrue rif thtm-ir
service abroad. Following
reaffirmed that CIA spouses contribute to the Agency's mission
in a very real and important way,
4. At this point in the testimony Chairman Boland appeared
at the hearing. Mr. Boland said that the Mazzoli bill would
correct an apparent inequity in the 1982 Act and that the
legislative history on the 1982 Act clearly indicated that the
treatment of spouses divorced prior to 1982 would be revisited
at some time in the future.
5. The last witness was Robert W. Magee, Director of
Personnel for the CIA. Mr. Magee submitted his statement for
the record and summarized briefly from it. Mr. Mazzoli asked
whether or not Mr. Magee would be able to locate the former
spouses that would fall under the bill. Mr. Magee indicated
that we would locate these people. Following this question,
Mr. Magee stated his pleasure at being able to endorse the
contributions of CIARDS former spouses and his wish to work
with the Committee in this regard and on other CIA personnel
O ice o Legislative Liaison
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Approved For Release 2008/11/07: CIA-RDP90B01370R001501930036-4
 .ti
Approved For Release 2008/11/07: CIA-RDP90B01370R001501930036-4
Subject: Testimony of the Director of Personnel on
H.R. 5805, the Mazzoli Former Spouse Bill
Distribution:
Original - LEG Subject (Former Spouses)
1 - OLL Chrono
1 - D/OLL
1 - DD/OLL
1 - ROD Signer
OLL/LEG/SWH:si (18 October 1984)
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