The House

Military Budget

By a 239-177 vote, the House approved a fiscal 1988 military budget of $289.4 billion, about $23 billion below President Reagan’s request and comparable to this year’s defense appropriation.

Shaped by the Democratic majority, the bill (HR 1748) is a major rebuff to the Administration’s military proposals for the fiscal year beginning in October. The Senate is working on a companion bill Reagan finds slightly more agreeable.

The House bill outlaws all but the smallest underground nuclear tests if the Soviets do the same, cuts nearly in half Reagan’s request to develop the “Star Wars” anti-missile system, denies funding to produce Bigeye bombs carrying nerve gas and gives the Pentagon far fewer MX test missiles than it wanted.

Also, it mandates U. S. adherence to the 1972 ABM treaty so that the “Star Wars” system could not become operational and requires Reagan to bring the United States back into compliance with the unratified SALT II treaty of 1979.

Members voting yes favored the 1988 defense authorization bill.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Beilenson (D) x Rep. Berman (D) x Rep. Dixon (D) x Rep. Levine (D) x Rep. Waxman (D) x

Nuclear Test Ban

The Democratic-led House invited President Reagan’s veto of the defense bill (above) by approving, 234-187, an amendment to ban all large U. S. nuclear tests in fiscal 1988 if the Soviets reciprocate. Each country would have to permit on-site inspection by the other side. The ban would apply to underground testing of weapons exceeding one kiloton.

Sponsor Patricia Schroeder (D-Colo.) said the ban would “lower the level of nuclear terror that was created on this planet in the 1940s.”

Opponent Robert E. Badham (R-Newport Beach) said the amendment would block development of missiles such as the Midgetman and D-5 that are vital to preventing nuclear war by deterring it.

Members voting yes supported the nuclear test ban.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Beilenson (D) x Rep. Berman (D) x Rep. Dixon (D) x Rep. Levine (D) x Rep. Waxman (D) x

Maneuvers Near Nicaragua

By a vote of 197-225, the House rejected an amendment to the defense bill (above) to virtually prohibit American military maneuvers in Honduras and Costa Rica within 20 miles of Nicaragua.

Supporter Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) said, “If American troops are in Honduras to train, they should not be in a battle zone.”

Opponents said America must train allied troops in Central American if it expects them to check Soviet-backed Nicaragua.

Members voting yes wanted to keep U. S. military advisers from within 20 miles of Nicaragua.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Beilenson (D) x Rep. Berman (D) x Rep. Dixon (D) x Rep. Levine (D) x Rep. Waxman (D) x