Senate Votes Panama, Nicaragua Aid

The Senate on Thursday authorized $770 million in emergency aid for Panama and Nicaragua but put off a vote on actual appropriations until after its Easter recess, despite repeated pleas by President Bush for swifter action.

Senate Democratic Leader George J. Mitchell of Maine said the authorization bill was a necessary first step before the Senate could take up the foreign aid money bill when it returns April 18 from its recess, which starts today.

Mitchell and other Democratic leaders have said that before providing the money for Panama and Nicaragua, they want the Bush Administration to spell out its overall foreign assistance plan.

While the Senate passed the authorization measure by voice vote with no opposition, Sen. Bob Kasten (R-Wis.) complained that the lawmakers should have postponed the scheduled recess until the money bill was approved, too.

Acting on a 362-59 roll call vote, the House earlier this week approved $420 million for aid to Panama and $300 million for Nicaragua as part of a $2.4-billion emergency appropriations bill. Other funds in the bill were earmarked for food stamps, unemployment insurance, veterans’ benefits and other domestic programs.

Although the Senate held up the appropriation of the funds, Sen. Christopher J. Dodd (D-Conn.) hailed the authorization vote, saying it represents “a new chapter in our relations with Panama and Nicaragua.”