BRIEFING PAPER LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP76-00183R000500100040-6
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 30, 2001
• Sequence Number: 40
• Content Type: BRIEF

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LEGISLA TIVE COUNSEL
You are aware that this Agency and the Director personally
have been very active with the Congress in recent weeks in connection
with the U-2 incident. The Director's appearances on the Hill since
the 31st of May have been publicized in the papers. You may not know
that prior to the U-2 briefings the Director made 13 appearances before
congressional committees this year. These appearances included the
more or less routine briefings which we provide the Foreign Relations
and Foreign Affairs Committees on the general world situation and
the intelligence briefing of the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy as
well as briefings of our own CIA Subcommittees in the House Armed
Services and Appropriations Committees, The Director has also
briefed the House Committee on Science and Astronautics and the
combined Senate Committees on Aeronautical and Space Sciences and
Preparedness on the subject of the Soviet missile program covering
our estimates of Soviet capabilities and intentions in the missile and
space fields. Prior to the launching of the first Russian Sputnik, Agency
briefings of congressional committees were in the number of five or
six a year. Since the Sputnik, the frequency and number of briefings of
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congressional committees increased sharply, and has continued at
this level ever since. Last year the Agency conducted 28 briefings
of this type. (A list of the 1960 appearances is attached as Tab A.)
I believe you would be interested in the status of various con-
gressional proposals which have been introduced to establish a joint
committee on intelligence. Prior to the U-2 incident, 16 such measures
were introduced; two have been introduced since the U-2 incident.
(A list of these measures is attached as Tab B.) While some of the
proponents of these measures have renewed their pressure for enact-
ment, the House Rules Committee has informally tabled any action on
these measures this year. In February 1959, the CIA Subcommittee
of the House Armed Services Committee was reconstituted with Rep-
resentative Paul Kilday as chairman. A number of the more junior
members of the Armed Services Committee who would have more time
and opportunity to meet with the Director and other Agency officials
were appointed to this Subcommittee. The Agency has provided extensive
briefings for this Subcommittee on the organization and mission of CIA.
Despite the existence of this Subcommittee and a somewhat comparable
Subcommittee in the Senate the matter of a joint committee will undoubtedly
be raised again in the next congress.
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The Legislative Counsel is also responsible for Agency liaison
with Congressional Committees and with members of Congress
individually, Our first obligation is to the CIA Subcommittees of the
House and Senate Armed Services and Appropriations Committees.
The Agency also maintains close relationships with the Foreign Relations
and Foreign Affairs Committees, the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy
and the Immigration Subcommittees of the House and Senate. Contacts
with individual members of the congress include the handling of
correspondence on specific inquiries which they may raise and more
or less routine correspondence and liaison concerning cases of appli-
cants recommended for employment with the Agency.
It is also the responsibility of the Legislative Counsel to screen
all measures introduced in the Congress and determine which of those
measures are of direct interest to the Agency. During this Congress,
a total of over 15, 000 measures have been introduced. (Resumes of
legislative activity are attached as Tab C.) Measures of direct
interest are reviewed in detail by the Legislative Counsel and referred
to various interested offices within the Agency. Depending upon the
nature of the proposal and its posture in the Congress, the Legislative
Counsel may, on his own initiative or at the request of the Congress,
prepare specific comments stating the Agency's position with respect
to any given proposal. While it would be premature to give you a final
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analysis of legislation considered and enacted in the second session
of the 86th Congress, I am sure you would be interested in the status
of several specific proposals now pending. You have undoubtedly followed
in the press the parlimentary maneuvering now being conducted in
connection with proposed pay legislation. Whether or not a pay bill
will be enacted this year is a matter of conjecture at this point. You
would also be interested in a bill establishing uniform allowances for
all government employees overseas. It will cover employees of the
Agency, Department of Defense, and others. This bill has passed the
House and hearings have been held by the Senate Post Office and Civil
Service Committee. The bill also has the support of the Administration.
Among other things this bill would establish a separate home leave
system for employees of this Agency as well as others. Informed
sources feel that there is good reason to believe that this bill will be
enacted this year. A good example of the way in which our Legislative
Counsel has obtained needed legislation is found in the recent extension
of foreign service reserve officer appointments. Legislation authorizing
the extension of these appointments from five to ten years by amendment
of the Foreign Service Act was obtained at the specific request of this
Agency by the insertion of a rider in the Mutual Security Act.
Attachments: Tabs A, B, C
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