House Votes to Maintain U.S. Troop Levels in NATO Countries, S. Korea

The House voted support Friday for the commitment of U.S troops to Europe and South Korea, despite complaints by legislators that American allies should do more for their own defense.

The decisions came as the Democratic-controlled chamber plowed through a huge bill authorizing the Pentagon budget for the fiscal year starting Oct. 1.

In the first vote, the House turned down, 311 to 64, an amendment that would have directed the Administration to develop a plan for the withdrawal of troops from South Korea.

Then the chamber gave voice vote approval to another amendment prohibiting reductions in the levels of U.S. troops stationed in countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

The bill would authorize $288 billion in defense spending next year, compared to the current $289-billion Pentagon budget and the $312 billion sought by President Reagan.

The Senate is expected next week to consider its version of the defense budget and differences between the measures passed by the two chambers will eventually have to be reconciled by a conference committee. The Senate measure proposes $303 billion for defense.

Before the troop cut votes, both supporters and opponents of reducing U.S. overseas commitments complained that American allies do not do enough for allied defenses.