The House : Space Program Funds

By a vote of 166 to 256, the House rejected an amendment to transfer $400 million from space program research and development to domestic programs, including those for housing, the homeless, veterans and urban development action grants.

The amendment was proposed to a bill (HR 4800) providing $59.7 billion in fiscal 1989 for the Department of Housing and Urban Development and agencies, such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Veterans Administration.

The bill was sent to the Senate.

Sponsor Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) said: “Every district across America has senior citizens who are desperate for housing, but they cannot find it.”

Opponent Robert G. Torricelli (D-N.J.) said the cut would kill space station plans and put the United States behind the Soviet Union in space exploration.

Members voting yes wanted to shift $400 million from the NASA budget to domestic programs.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Moorhead (R) x Rep. Roybal (D) x Rep. Waxman (D) x

Fair Housing

The House rejected, 116 to 289, an amendment excluding families with children under 18 as a class to be protected by the Fair Housing Act. The vote preserved language to outlaw landlord policies that exclude children from housing. It came during debate on a bill to strengthen the 1968 Fair Housing Act, in part by giving the Department of Housing and Urban Development increased powers to combat discrimination administratively and in federal court.

The bill (HR 1158) remained in debate.

Supporters said their amendment would prevent families from occupying housing set aside for the elderly. They also denounced the family provision as excessive federal authority.

Opponents of the amendment said rental policies that exclude children worsen the U.S. housing shortage and help cause social ills, such as drug abuse.

Members voting yes wanted to strip pending fair housing legislation of special protection for families with children under 18.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Moorhead (R) x Rep. Roybal (D) x Rep. Waxman (D) x

Defense Spending

By a vote of 360 to 53, the House passed and sent to the Senate a bill (HR 4781) appropriating $282.6 billion for the Department of Defense in fiscal 1989. When combined with separate military appropriations of $17 billion, the bill raises the 1989 defense budget to about $299.6 billion. It provides $80.7 billion for procurement, including weapons acquisition; $78.4 billion for military personnel; $85.7 billion for operations and maintenance, and $36.1 billion for research and development.

Supporter Bill Chappell Jr. (D-Fla.) called it “a minimal level bill acknowledging the need to show restraint in overall government spending.”

No opponent spoke against the bill.

Members voting yes supported the fiscal 1989 defense appropriations bill.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Moorhead (R) x Rep. Roybal (D) x Rep. Waxman (D) x