October 3, 2007

Washington D.C. – U.S. Senator Harry Reid of Nevada hailed the passage of the 2008 Intelligence Authorization Bill that has a provision that brings Air America employees one step closer to receiving federal civil service benefits for their service to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s.

“By including this measure in the Intelligence Authorization bill, we are making sure that those who served this country with honor get the retirement benefits they deserve,” said Reid.

Air America was a company that had been acquired by the CIA in 1950 and which flew missions for the CIA into the 1970's.  For some years, former employees of Air America and related companies have sought to obtain federal civil service retirement benefits for their service.  Unable to obtain relief in the courts under present law, the former employees of Air America have requested congressional consideration of legislation that would enable them to obtain federal civil service retirement benefits.
 
Reid’s provision instructs the Director of National Intelligence to report on the retirement benefits for former employees of Air America.