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

DATE: THURSDAY, September 7, 1995                   TAG: 9509070067
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

SENATE OKS $265 BILLION DEFENSE BILL

The Senate agreed to a costly missile defense system, then passed a $265 billion military budget Wednesday that seeks billions for Navy ships, ``smart'' bombs, FA-18 fighters and improved tanks.

Final passage in a 64-34 vote came only after Republicans and Democrats compromised on the missile defense measure. The bill contains the added missile defense money the Republicans wanted, but waters down language that would have violated the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.

The bill still contains a $626 million increase over Clinton's $3 billion request for overall ballistic missile defenses, most of which was for theater missile defenses. The Senate increase would be divided about equally between theater and national missile defenses, the latter designed to protect Americans from attacks from such rogue nations as North Korea and Iraq.

``This sets a clear path to deployment,'' said Sen. John Warner, R-Va.

- Associated Press

by CNB