(3) Trade secrets, patents, and copyrights revealed by private business to GSA pursuant to its statutory responsibilities.

(b) Congressional committees on request?

Information which is determined by the Attorney General to fall within the province of privileged executive communications.

(c) Congressional committees upon subpena?

Same as (b) above.

2. If information is refused, on what authority is the refusal based? (a) To individual Congressmen?

(1) Statement of policy on release of privileged executive communications expressed in letter of May 17, 1954, from the President of the United States to the Secretary of Defense.

(2) Information pertaining to matters that are in litigation involving the Government comes under the jurisdiction of the Department of Justice and its release requires the determination of the Attorney General.

(3) Trade secrets, patents, and copyrights are revealed to GSA by business firms on a confidential basis. Confidential data of this type involves sound trade practices for the protection and integrity of the business community.

(b) Congressional committees on request?

Same as (a) (1) above.

(c) Congressional committees upon subpena? Same as (a) (1) above.

3. How many instances have there been between July 1, 1954, and July 1, 1955, of refusal of information by your agency to— (a) Individual Congressmen on request?

None to the best of our knowledge.

(b) Congressional committees on request?

None.

(c) Congressional committees upon subpena? None.

4. Please outline the instances listed in question 3 where the information was refused on the basis of the doctrine of executive communications

There were none.

5. What information does your agency regularly transmit to individual Congressmen, congressional committees, and the Congress as a whole?

To individual Congressmen:

(1) Approvals of construction projects.

(2) Award of contracts for construction of buildings.

(3) Award of major contracts for supplies and services.

To congressional committees:

(1) Personnel report submitted monthly to the Joint Committee on the Reduction of Nonessential Expenditures (sec. 601 (b) and (d) (55 Stat. 762)).

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(2) Certification and report on position review under the Whitten amendment. Submitted annually to the Senate and House committees on Appropriations and the Senate and House Committees on Post Office and Civil Service (sec. 1310 (d) of Supplemental Appropriations Act of 1952).

(3) Report on activities under the Defense Production Act. Submitted quarterly to the Joint Committee on Defense Production.

(4) Periodic report of the Administrator concerning GSA activities to the Senate and House Committees on Government Operations.

(5) Report on procurement by the executive agencies. Submitted semiannually to the Senate and House Committees on Small Business and Government Operations.

To the Congress as a whole:

(1) Annual report of the Administrator (Public Law 152. 81st Cong.. sec. 212)

(2) Semiannual reports on research and development contracts (Public Law 152, 81st Cong., sec. 302 (c) (10)).

(3) Biannual report on location and approximate accommodations of public buildings eligible for construction throughout the United States, its Territories and possessions (Public Law 105, 81st Cong., sec. 409).

(4) Annual report of activities to strengthen the common defense by providing for continuation and expansion of Western Hemisphere production of abaca by the United States (Public Law 683, 81st Cong., sec. 7).

(a) Please explain the policies and practices of your agency on transmitting such information

To individual Congressmen: The services and staff offices furnish the congressional liaison officer the information the same date it is available and the congressional liaison officer notifies the two Senators and the Representative of the State and the congressional district concerned. In order to furnish Members of Congress the information immediately, it is conveyed to them by telephone and later confirmed in writing if requested.

To congressional committees and the Congress as a whole: For the policies and practices of GSA with respect to transmittal of recurring and special reports to the Congress and congressional committees, please see administrative order No. 154.

(b) Please supply the regulations, directives, etc., regarding transmittal of this information

Attached are copies of administrative order 154, dated January 21, 1954, Administrator's memorandum of August 22, 1955, and Administrator's memorandum of September 23, 1953.

(c) Where this information is transmitted pursuant to statute, please supply citation

Citations given with the reports listed above under information regularly furnished to congressional committees and to the Congress as a whole.

(d) Is all this information, in your opinion, timely, necessary, and useful?

Yes. For example, the information regularly furnished individual Congressmen pertains to building projects approved for construction in their States and districts and contracts awarded for the construction of such projects. Also, it pertains to major contracts for supplies and services which have been awarded to business firms in their States and districts. The reports regularly furnished the Congress and congressional committees keep the Congress informed on matters concerning GSA activities, programs, and operations.

(e) Do security considerations affect your decision whether to supply information to individual Congressmen on request?

Yes.

(f) In this connection, what use do you make of security files on Members of Congress?

GSA does not maintain or have any knowledge of the existence of such files.

(g) Please suggest ways of improving the flow of information to individual Congressmen and congressional committees We do not have any suggestions to offer at this tine. However, we wish to point out that it is the policy of this agency to keep Members of Congress and congressional committees currently informed on all matters concerning GSA activities and operations in which they have an interest and to furnish prompt and accurate answers responsive to their inquiries. Although it is felt that our present procedure is adequate, we are constantly on the alert to take any steps that may be necessary to improve the flow of such information to congressional

sources.

6. How many employees of your agency are assigned to the job of contact with or making information available for individual Congressmen or congressional committees?

(a) Although any official of GSA may have contact with or furnish information to individual Congressmen or congressional committees, in accordance with the established policy and procedures of this agency, one congressional liaison officer has the assigned responsibility for keeping Members of the Congress and congressional committees currently informed on all matters concerning GSA activities and operations in which they have an interest. This responsibility includes, but is not limited to, such matters as approvals of construction projects, award of contracts for construction of buildings, and major contracts for supplies and services.

The General Counsel, in addition to his other duties, works with and furnishes information to Members of Congress and congressional committees in connection with legislation, proposed legislation, and hearings involving the activities and operations of GSA. The Comptroller, in addition to his other duties, works with and furnishes information to the Senate and House Committees on Appropriations in connection with budgetary and fiscal matters.

(b) If you have a congressional liaison section, please describe its day-to-day operation

Close cooperation with the Congress is maintained through a legislative and liaison unit within the Office of General Counsel. The purpose of this unit is to assist Members of Congress and congressional committees in all matters pertaining to GSA activities and

operations and to provide a single, convenient place to which congressional inquiries, both written and oral, may be directed. During fiscal year 1955, more than 5,000 such inquiries were received by this unit from congressional sources. The personnel consists of 3 persons-the congressional liaison officer, 1 secretary, and 1 law clerk.

The day-to-day operation of the legislative and liaison unit is to plan, develop, coordinate, and, whenever appropriate, carry on all activities of the agency relating to (1) the preparation of GSA comments and recommendations on proposed legislation; (2) the maintenance of liaison with Members of Congress and congressional committees; (3) the keeping of Members of Congress currently informed concerning approvals of construction projects, award of contracts for construction of buildings, and major contracts for supplies and services; (4) the control, referral, and followup on congressional correspondence to assure prompt, accurate, and responsive replies to inquiries; (5) the furnishing of information responsive to telephone inquiries of individual Congressmen and congressional committees; (6) the making of arrangements, upon request, for appointments for Members of Congress and congressional committees with officials of GSA, and with their constituents who desire information regarding programs and activities of the agency; (7) the making of arrangements for personal appearances of GSA officials before congressional committees.

(c) Please estimate the annual cost to your agency of providing information to individual Congressmen

$194,533.

(d) To congressional committees

$64.844.

$20,377 of the total estimated cost of $259,377 is allocable to the legislative and liaison unit.

LIST OF ATTACHMENTS OF GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

1. General Services Manual 5, volume 1, April 14, 1953, part 2, Procurement by Formal Advertising, section 201.00: General

2. General Services Manual 1, volume 1, section 204.06: Safeguarding of Correspondence

3. General Services Manual 1, volume 1, part 3, Availability of Official Records, section 301.00: Records in the Custody of the General Services Adminisstration

4. General Regulation No. 15, June 17, 1954, re Debarment of Bidders

5. General Services Manual 1, volume 1, February 23, 1954, part 4, Security, section 401.00: Security Regulations

6. General Services Manual 1, volume 1, part 2, Information and Public Assistance Programs, section 201.00: Central Office Information Program 7. General Services Manual 1, volume 1, section 203.00: Business Assistance and Service Program

8. General Services Manual 1, volume 1, section 204.00: Information Program on Bids and Awards

9. General Services Manual 1, volume 1, section 205.00: Joint Procurement Information Program of the General Services Administration and the Department of Commerce

10. General Services Manual 1, volume 1, section 206.00: Information Concerning Specifications (April 6, 1954)

11. General Services Manual 1, volume 1, part 9, Control and Processing of Specified Categories of Written Communications, section 901.00: Central Office 12. Administrative Order No. 154, January 21, 1954, Reports to the Congress. 13. Memorandum of August 22, 1955, to Heads of Services and Staff Offices and Regional Director, Region 3, Control of Congressional Communications, Other Than Written

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE Answer to questionnaire submitted to Federal executive departments and independent agencies by Government Information Subcommittee of the House Government Operations Committee

INTRODUCTION

The Department considers it a major responsibility to inform the public, the Congress, other Federal agencies, and other interested organizations and individuals about its work. This policy is based on the recognition that fundamentally, of course, we are working for the public. The people who pay for our services have every right to know how we carry out our responsibilities. Wide dissemination of information about such programs is of great value to the public, so the people may know their rights and privileges. Such understanding, in fact, is necessary to carry out the intent of Congress and effectively administer many of the programs assigned to this Department. The statutes which the Congress has enacted pertaining to this Department are replete with authority and responsibility to collect, publish, and disseminate a wide range of information in the fields of health, education, and welfare.

Congress has specifically directed:

(1) That the Public Health Service disseminate medical, technical, and scientific information necessary to the progress of research; and that the Surgeon General shall issue information relating to public health for use of the public and institutions and individuals engaged in related work.

(2) That the Office of Education collect statistics and facts showing the condition and progress of education, and diffuse such information:

(3) That the Social Security Administration study and recommend the best methods of providing economic security through social

insurance;

(4) That the Children's Bureau investigate and report upon all matters pertaining to the welfare of children and child life among all classes of our people;

(5) That the Food and Drug Administration publish reports of all judgments, decrees, and court orders under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and disseminate information regarding food, drugs, devices, or cosmetics in situations involving imminent danger to health or gross deception of the consumer; and

(6) That the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation make studies, investigations, and reports with respect to abilities, aptitudes, and capacities of handicapped individuals, development of their potentialities, and their utilization in gainful and suitable employment. In addition to the dissemination of information directed by legislation, the Department undertakes to advise the public and the Congress