House Approves Humanitarian Aid for Contra Rebels
The House today approved $3.5 million in “humanitarian” aid to Nicaragua’s contra rebels, and Speaker Jim Wright said he expects it to be the last U.S. aid ever provided to the insurgents.
The aid money had been worked out in a bipartisan agreement between Wright (D-Tex.) and House Republican leader Robert H. Michel of Illinois. The bill was sent to the Senate for further action.
The $3.5 million represents the proportion of this year’s $100 million in contra aid money that has been used for food, medical supplies and uniforms and would be needed to sustain the rebels into November.
The vote came a day after Costa Rican President Oscar Arias Sanchez traveled to Capitol Hill to appeal to lawmakers to “give peace a chance” and eschew further military aid to the contras at least until Nov. 7, the target date for a regional cease-fire.
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