Nation IN BRIEF : WASHINGTON, D.C. : Speedy Development of Anti-Missiles OKd

The House voted to speed up development of anti-missiles to defend the United States against a limited missile attack. Approval of the program speedup came as the House rejected, 250 to 178, an effort to cut $450 million for the program out of a $267-billion defense authorization bill. The bill calls for deployment of the anti-missile defense “at the earliest practical date.” But Democratic opponents said the anti-missile defense was unrealistic and unnecessary.