ADJUSTMENTS IN ANNUITIES UNDER THE FOREIGN SERVICE RETIREMENT SYSTEM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP61-00357R000100160007-7
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 29, 2013
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: September 9, 1960
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

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Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/08/29: CIA-RDP61-00357R000100160007-7
17Z00 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD -- SENATE September 9
Mr. JOHNSTON of South Carolina.
Mr. President, the Civil Service Retire-
ment Act extends coverage to U.S. Com-
missioners whose fees total $3,000 in each
of 3 consecutive years.
Prior to July 1, 1945, the Government
was on a 6-day week. U.S. Commis-
sioners who have no fixed hours or days
of duty were required to work 313 days
to obtain 1 year of credit for retirement
purposes-365 days minus 52 Sundays
equals 313.
H.R. .163 provides that since July 1,
1945 U.S. Commissioners will receive
credit at the rate of 1 year for each 260
days of service-52 weeks times 5 days
each equals 260.
The effect of this change in law is to
place the few U.S. Commissioners who
qualify for credit on essentially the same
basis as other Federal employees who
since 1945 have been on a basic 5-day
week or a 260-day year.
ABSENCE FROM DUTY BY CIVILIAN
OlerICERS AND EMPLOYEES ON
CERTAIN DAYS
The bill (H.R. 5752) to provide for ab-
sence from duty by civilian officers and
employees of the Government on certain
days, and for other purposes, was an-
nounced as next in order.
Mr. PROUTY. Mr. President, I won-
der if we may have an explanation of
the bill by the distinguished Senator
from South Carolina [Mr. Joimsron].
Mr. JOHNSTON of South Carolina.
Mr. President, this legislation does not
establish any new or additional legal
holidays. It does not give any Federal
employee any right, privilege, or benefit
not clearly intended under existing law.
It will cause no interference or delay in
the operations or services of any Gov-
ernment department or agency. The
bill merely closes a gap in the law which
has continued largely due to oversight
and has been brought to special atten-
tion because, under existing law, hun- -
dreds of thousands of Federal employ-
ees would have received, except for a
Presidential executive_order, only 6 days
off to observe legal holidays in 1959 in-
stead of the eight legal holidays which
they had a right to expect and which
many other Federal workers received be-
cause of variations in their workweeks
and without the Presidential executive
order. Similar loss of holiday time off
will recur in later years from time to
time, by reason of the calendar days on
which certain holidays happen to fall
in such years. In short, the loss of hol-
idays may be said to be due to accident
of the calendar which was not taken in-
to consideration when the Congress laid
down, the policy of eight legal holidays
each year for Federal employees.
This legislation is recommended by
the committee with full recognition that
certain essential Government services
must be provided for the workdays on
which employees will be excused to ob-
serve legal holidays. Service to business
and the public by the postal establish-
ment, for instance, must be maintained,
not only as a matter of public conven-
ience and necessity but, also, to prevent
the disruption of orderly and expeditious
movement of the mails and overloading
of storage facilities which would result
were post offices and other facilities to
be closed down on such days. These and
Similar necessary Government functions
will not be interrupted as a result of this
legislation. Management, of course, will
take all possible measures to provide
adequate service at a minimum cost
through appropriate assignment of em-
ployees, the granting of compensatory
time off where suitable, and careful
planning of work schedules.
Mr. PROUTY. In other words, this
measure would place in the law what the
President already has authority to do?
Mr. JOHNSTON of South Carolina.
Yes. He did it this year. There will not
be another such instance for about 2
years.
Mr. PROUTY. I have no objection.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there
objection to present consideration of
House bill 5752?
There being no objection, the bill was
considered, ordered to a third reading,
read the third time, and passed.
INCREASE IN LIMITATION ON BASIC
COMPENSATION OF CIVILIAN
KEEPERS OF LIGHTHOUSES
The bill (H.R. 2245) to amend subsec-
tion 432(g) of title 14, United States
Code, to increase the limitation on basic
compensation of civilian keepers of light-
houses was considered, ordered to a third
reading, read the third time, and passed.
BILLS PASSED OVER
The bill (S. 2612) to amend the Small
Business Act was announced as next in
order.
Mr. KEATING. Over, by request.
The PRESIDING aterICER. The
bill will be passed over.
The bill (H.R. 8599) to amend the
Small Business Act, and for other pur-
poses, was announced as next in order.
Mr. KEATING. Over, by request.
? The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
bill will be passed over.
The bill (S. 2611) to amend the Small
Business Investment Act of 1958, and for
other purposes, was announced as next
in order.
Mr. KEATING. Over, by request.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
bill will be passed over.
APPLICATION OF MERCHANT MA-
RINE ACT OF 1936 TO CERTAIN
FUNCTIONS RELATING TO FISH-
ING VESSELS
The bill (S. 2481) to continue the ap-
plication of the Merchant Marine Act of
1936, as amended, to certain functions
relating to fishing vessels transferred to
the Secretary of the Interior, and for
other purposes, was considered, ordered
to be engrossed for a third reading, read
the third time, and passed, as follows:
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States of
America in Congress assembled, That in order
to permit the efficient execution of functions
relating to the issuance of Federal ship mort-
gage insurance on fishing vessels, pursuant
to the Merchant Marine Act of June 29, 1936,
as amended (49 Stat. 1985; 46 U.S.C., 1952
edition, sec. 1271 and the following) , which
functions relating to fishing vessels have
been transferred to the Secretary of the In-
terior pursuant to the Fish and Wildlife Act
of 1956, the Secretary of the Interior here-
after may exercise authority comparable to
the authority of the Secretary of Commerce
under the said Merchant Marine Act of 1936,
including, but not limited to, the authority
contained in the amendment to such Act
of July 15, 1958 (72 Stat. 358).
Mr. LAUSCHE subsequently said: Mr.
President, I ask unanimous consent that
the Senate return to a discussion of Cal-
endar No. 852, S. 2481.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. With-
out objection, the Senate will return to
the consideration of Calendar No. 852,
S. 2481.
Mr. LAUSCHE. Mr. President, is this
the bill in which it is intended to give
to the fishing industry subsidies provided
by the Merchant Marine Act?
Mr. ENGLE. Mr. President, that is
not the purpose of this bill. Another
bill on the calendar has that purpose,
and that bill was passed over.
Mr. LAUSCHE. I thank the Senator
from California.
Mr. KEATING. Mr. President, I sug-
gest, since the Senate has returned to
the consideration of Calendar No. 852,
S. 2481, that I did not object to its con-
sideration. But I do have a request from
the Senator that it go over for the pur-
pose of being taken up on motion, on
the ground that it is not calendar busi-
ness. So I ask unanimous consent that
the vote by which the bill was passed be
reconsidered.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. With-
out objection, it is so ordered. The bill
will be placed on the calendar.
BILLS PASSED OVER
The bill (H.R. 3610) to amend the
Federal Water Pollution Control Act to
increase grants for construction of sew-
age treatment works and for other pur-
poses, was announced as next in order.
Mr. KEATING. Over, not Consent
Calendar business.
The PRESIDING OrNICER. The
bill will be passed over.
The-bill (S. 155) to amend the Federal
Property and Administrative Service Act
of 1949, so as to permit donations of
surplus property to libraries which are
tax supported or publicly owned and
operated, was announced as next in or-
der.
Mr. KEATING. Over, not Consent
Calendar business.
The PRESIDING OrriCER. The
bill will be passed over.
ADJUSTMENTS IN ANNUITIES UN-
DER THE FOREIGN SERVICE RE-
TIREMENT SYSTEM ,
The Senate proceeded to consider the-1
bill (S. 1502) to provide for adjustments
in the annuities under the Foreign Serv-
ice retirement and disability system,
which had been reported from the Com-
mittee on Foreign Relations, with an
amendment, to strike out all after the
enacting clause and insert:
That (a) The annuity of each retired offi-
cer who, on August 1, 1959, is receiving or
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Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/08/29: CIA-RDP61-00357R000100160007-7
s CONGRESSIONAL RECORD - SENATE 17201
entitled to receive an annuity from the For-
eigia Sexvice Retirement and Disability Fund,
based on service which terminated on or
before July 31, 1959, shall be increased by
10 per centum.
(b) The annuity operwise payable from
the Foreign Service Retirement and Disabil-
ity Fund to each survivor annuitant who,
on August 1, 1959, is receiving or entitled to
receive an annuity based on service which
terminated on or before July 31, 1959, shall
be increased by 10 per centum.
(c) The increases provided by subsections
(a) and (b) of this section shall take effect
on the first day of the first month which
begins more than thirty days after the date
of enactment of this Act.
SEC. 2. The annuity of each retired officer
who, on or after August 1, 1959, is receiving
or entitled to receive an annuity from the
Foreign Service Retirement and Disability
Fund, based on service which terminated
on or after August 1, 1959, shall be increased
on the first day of the first month which
begins more than ,thirty days after the date
of enactment of this Act or on the com-
mencing date of annuity, whichever is later,
in accordance with the following schedule:
Annuity shall be
increased by-
If annuity commences between:
September 1, 1959 and June
30, 1960 6 per centum
July 1, 1960 and June 30,
1961 4 per centum
July 1, 1961 and June 30,
1962 2 per centum
SEC. 3. The annuity of any survivor an-
nuitant who, on or after August 1, 1959, is
receiving or entitled to receive an annuity
from the Foreign Service Retirement and
Disability Fund, based on service which
terminated on or after August 1, 1959, shall
be increased on the first day of the first
month which begins more than thirty days
after the date of enactment of this Act or
on the commencing date of annuity, which-
ever is later, in accordance with the follow-
-ing schedule:
Annuity shall be
increased by-
If annuity commences between:
September 1, 1959 and June
30, 1960 ? 6 per centum
July 1, 1960 and June 30,
1961 4 per centum
July 1, 1961 and June 30,
1962 2 per centum
SEC. 4. No increase provided by the fore-
going provisions of this Act shall be coin-
puted on any additional annuity purchased
with voluntary contributions pursuant to
the provisions of section 881 of the Foreign
Service Act of 1946, as amended.
SEC. 5. Nothing contained in Public Law
85-882 shall operate to increase any annuity
which commences on or after September 1,
1959.
SEC. 6. Section 5 of Public Law 503.,
Eighty-fourth Congress, is amended to read '
as follows:
"Szo. 5. In any case where a participant
under the Foreign Service retirement and
disability system died before August 29,
1954, leaving a widow who is not entitled to
receive an annuity under the system and
who is not receiving benefits under the Fed-
eral Employees' Compensation Act, the Sec-
retary of State is authorized and directed to
grant such widow an annuity of not to ex-
ceed $2,400 per annum."
The amendment was agreed to.
The bill was ordered to be engrossed
for a third reading, read the third time,
and passed. .
Mr. SPARKMAN. Mr. President, I
ask unanimous consent to have printed
in the RECORD at this point as a part of
my remarks a brief statement in sup-
port of the bill.
There being no objection, the state-
ment was ordered to be printed in the
RECORD, as follows:
STATEMENT BY SENATOR SPARKMAN
S. 1502 seeks to do two things. First, it
would provide a 10-percent increase in the
annuities of retired Foreign Service officers
and their survivors. Second, it would in-
crease from $1,200 to $2,400 per year the
amount of a gratuity which the Secretary
of State is authorized to pay to Widows of
Foreign Service officers who have died leav-
ing such widows without annuities under
the Foreign Service retirement system, pro-
vided such widows are not receiving benefits
under the Federal Employment Compensa-
tion Act.
' Mr. President, this bill is very much
needed. We are all aware of the adverse
effect which inflation has upon retired peo-
ple generally. Retired Government em-
ployees are no exception. - Several cost-of-
living increases in annuities of retired Gov-
ernment personnel have been made during
the last few years. Retired Foreign Serv-
ice officers have sometimes shared in these
cost-of-living increases and sometimes not.
At the moment retired Foreign Service per-
sonnel lag some 10 percent behind other
civilian retired people in the receipt of these
cost-of-living increases. S. 1502 will place
retired Foreign Service personnel and their
survivors in the same relative position as
retired civil service employees. Mr. Presi-
dent, I regret that this bill will not fully
carry out the intent of Congress when it
enacted the Foreign Service retirement and
disability system. That system aimed at
providing comfortable pensions for retired
Foreign' Service personnel. Inflation has
frustrated that legislation objective and the
10-percent increase obtained in this bill will
not fully undo the damage.
The original version of this '1502 would
have gone a long way toward meeting the
objective of the Foreign Service retirement
system because it would have tied annui-
ties of person's who have already retired to
the annuities of those retiring now. There
was objection to this and we have had to
settle for less. The 10-percent across-the-
board increase is fully supported by the ad-
ministration.
I shall conclude, Mr. President, in quot-
ing from the recommendation from the
Committee on Foreign Relations on S. 1502.
"The Committee on Foreign Relations rec-
ommends that the Senate move to repair
some of the damage done by inflation to
the orderly and adequate retirement system
previously established by law for Foreign
Service personnel. Upward adjustment of
10 percent in Foreign Service annuities will
place retired Foreign Service officers on a
par with retired civil service employees. The
committee accordingly recommends that the
Senate approve S. 1502, as amended."
WONG SUE CHEE
The bill (S. 1696) for the relief of
Wong Sue Chee was considered, ordered
to be engrossed for a third reading, read
the third time, and passed, as follows:
Strike out all after the enacting clause
and insert: "That, for the purposes of sec-
tions 101(a) (27) (A) and 205 of the Immi-
gration and Nationality Act, Wong Sue Chee
shall be held and considered to be the minor
alien child of Eddie Huie, a citizen of the
United States."
The amendment was agreed to.
The bill was ordered to be engrossed
.for a third reading, read the third time,
and passed.
HIRSH MARINSKI
The bill (S. 1822) for the relief of
Hirsh Marinski was considered, ordered
to be engrossed for a third reading, read
the third time, and passed, as follows:
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States of
America in Congress assembled, That, for the
purposes of the Immigration and Nationality
Act, Hirsh Marinski shall be held and con-
sidered to have been lawfully admitted to
the United States for permanent residence as
of the date of the enactment of this Act,
upon payment of the required visa fee. Upon
the granting of permanent residence to such.
alien as provided for in this Act, the Secre-
tary of State shall instruct the proper quota-
control officer to deduct one number from
the appropriate quota for the first year that
such quota is available.
MILEVA LOVRIC
The bill (S. 2129) for the relief of
Mileva Lovric was considered, ordered
to be engrossed for a third reading, read
the third time, and passed, as follows:
Be it enacted by the Senate and House
of Representatives of the United States of
America in Congress assembled, That, for the
purposes of the Immigration and Nationality
'Act, Mileva Lovric shall be held and con-
sidered to have been lawfully admitted to
the United States for permanent residence
as of the date of the enactment of this Act,
upon payment of the required visa fee. Upon.
the granting of permanent residence to such
alien as provided for in this Act, the Secre-
tary of State shall instruct the proper quota-
control officer to deduct one number from
the appropriate quota for the first year that
such quota is available.
SERGIUSZ RUDCZENKO
The Senate proceeded to consider the
bill (S. 2319) for the relief of Sergiusz
Rudczenko.
Mr. MORSE. Mr. President, I should
like to have the attention of my junior
colleague. I offer an amendment which
I send to the desk and ask to have stated.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
amendment offered by the Senator from
Oregon will be stated.
The LEGISLATIVE CLERK. On the first
page, line 3, strike out "section 212
(a) (6)" and insert in lieu thereof "sec-
tions 212(a) (6) and 212(a) (15)".
On page 2, lines 3 and 4, strike out
"this exemption shall apply only to a
ground" and insert in lieu thereof the
following: "these exemptions shall apply
only to grounds".
At the end of the bill add the follow-
ing new section:
"sEc. 2. Notwithstanding any other provi-
sions of law, any condition or control which
the Attorney General may deem necessary
to impose pursuant to the provisions of the
first section of this Act shall not be grounds
for precluding the classification of Sergiftsz
Rudczenko as an immigrant under section
203(a) (1) of the Immigration and Nation-
ality Act.
Mr. EASTLAND. Mr, President, will
the Senator yield?
Mr. MORSE. I yield.
Mr. EASTLAND The amendment is
acceptable, but the Immigration Service
informs me that the bill is adequate as it
is, and that the amendment would serve
no purpose.
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