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

DATE: THURSDAY, June 30, 1994                   TAG: 9406300141
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                 LENGTH: Short

$2.1 BILLION OK'D FOR SPACE STATION

The House on Wednesday approved $2.1 billion in funding for the space station next year, brushing aside criticism that it is too expensive and offers too little scientific bang for the buck.

On a 278-155 vote, lawmakers rejected a measure that would have terminated the space station and shifted its funding to other NASA programs.

The vote occurred during debate over a $90.5 billion appropriations package that also finances veterans, housing, environmental and other space programs. The House gave final approval to the entire bill on a 344-84 vote.

A similar effort to kill the space station was defeated by only one vote a year ago.

The House's action Wednesday ``signals the end of doubt about America's commitment to space exploration,'' Vice President Al Gore said in a written statement after the vote.

The space station vote capped a 21/2-hour debate during which opponents repeated their arguments that the $30 billion orbiting laboratory is too costly and is squeezing funds from other vital NASA programs.

by CNB