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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 6, 1995                   TAG: 9509060152
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

DEFENSE BILL PASSES IN SENATE

The Senate moved Tuesday to wrap up work on two defense bills that could fundamentally change the Cold War ground rules for national missile defense systems.

In the first order of business after their three-week summer recess, senators approved a $243 billion defense appropriations bill for fiscal 1996 and planned a vote today on a partner bill that authorizes $265 billion in military spending programs for the coming year.

The vote on the appropriations bill was 62-35 with both of Virginia's senators, Republican John Warner and Democrat Charles Robb, voting for it.

The two bills are $6 billion to $7 billion more than the Clinton administration asked and reflect the Republican majority's determination to overcome what it says are serious readiness and equipment shortcomings in the nation's defense.

The authorization bill establishes programs and the appropriations bill approves specific funding.

- Associated Press

by CNB