
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, February 4, 1994                   TAG: 9402040115
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

SENATE LINKS SCHOOL FUNDS, PRAYER RIGHT

Acquiescing to an appeal by Sen. Jesse Helms, the Senate agreed Thursday to deny federal funds to state or local agencies that bar constitutionally protected prayer in public schools.

Helms satisfied senators' concerns by modifying the language in the proposal to ensure that it would apply only to prayer protected by the Constitution. Student or religious groups are allowed to conduct prayer meetings in public schools before or after school hours if the school also allows non-religious groups to meet.

The 75-22 vote came as the Senate debated the Goals 2000 education bill, which would write into law the national education goals agreed to in 1989 by then-President Bush and the nation's governors.

The legislation would provide $400 million for states and local governments to reform education programs.

- Associated Press

by CNB