Panel Approves Defense Budget of $299 Billion

The Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday approved a bill appropriating almost $300 billion for the Pentagon after turning back an effort to limit President Reagan’s anti-missile program.

The measure gives the Defense Department $299.6 billion for this fiscal year, substantially below the $320 billion originally requested by Reagan.

An attempt by Sen. J. Bennett Johnston (D-La.) to create a 14-member commission to study the “Star Wars” program and advise Congress was defeated on a 15-13 vote.

After that defeat, Johnston decided not to press his effort to cut money for “Star Wars” research from $2.9 billion to $2.1 billion. It is expected that he will offer the cut when the bill reaches the Senate floor.

House Version of Bill

The House has already passed a $292-billion version of the defense bill, including $2.5 billion for “Star Wars” research.

“This is probably the last year we’ll see any support for the President’s modernization program for a while, given the budgetary constraints and deficit fears around here,” said Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), chairman of the panel’s defense subcommittee.

The bill passed by the appropriations panel includes $163 million for the first U.S. chemical weapons production since 1969. The House deleted funds for the weapons.

The Senate bill also contains no restrictions on testing of U.S. anti-satellite weapons, compared to the limit of three tests which is part of the House legislation.

Once the Senate passes its version, differences between the two bills will be worked out in a conference committee.