
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, June 10, 1994                    TAG: 9406100704 
SECTION: FRONT                     PAGE: A2    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT 
DATELINE: 940610                                 LENGTH: WASHINGTON

DEFENSE BUDGET CLEARS HOUSE WITH FUNDING FOR NEW CARRIER

{LEAD} Its approval had been assured by committee action weeks ago, but Hampton Roads area congressmen nevertheless breathed a sigh of relief Thursday as the House formally backed construction of a new aircraft carrier that will protect thousands of local jobs.

The $3.6 billion needed for the ship, which is to be constructed at Newport News Shipbuilding, was included in a $262 billion defense authorization bill given final House approval. Opponents were unable to even force a floor debate over the project, the largest single item in the Pentagon's 1995 spending plan.

{REST} Money for the ship is in a similar Senate bill expected to be endorsed today by the full Senate Armed Services Committee. Senate floor action could come next week - passage is expected - but the carrier money won't be secure until a compromise defense bill is passed by both houses and signed by President Clinton, probably in late summer.

The Clinton administration is supporting the carrier. When complete, it will give the Navy a fleet of 11 flattops; a 12th, a training ship, will be available for emergency duty.

The ship is the last Nimitz-class carrier now planned by the Navy and would protect the jobs of about 4,000 Newport News Shipbuilding employees. Even with the carrier contract, the shipyard plans to cut its 21,000-member work force to between 14,000 and 15,000 by 1996.

All four of the area's congressmen, Republican Herbert H. Bateman and Democrats Owen B. Pickett, Robert C. Scott and Norman Sisisky, have been vocal supporters of the carrier, as have Sens. John W. Warner and Charles S. Robb.

The defense bill passed Thursday in the House also includes $120 million for construction of a new Portsmouth Naval Hospital.

The bill also authorizes:

$90.1 billion for operation and maintenance, for day-to-day operations of the military, a $2.44 billion reduction from Clinton's request.

$44.6 billion for weapons and equipment acquisition, a $1 billion increase over Clinton's request.

$2.7 billion for three DDG-51 Arleigh Burke guided-missile destroyers, as requested.

$2.5 billion for six C-17 wide-body military cargo planes.

Research and development on four future weapons: $2.5 billion for the F-22 fighter; $507 million for a new attack submarine; $497 million for the V-22 Osprey, the tilt-rotor Marine transport aircraft; and $525 million for the RAH-66 Comanche helicopter.

A 2.6 percent military pay raise, compared to 1.6 percent sought by Clinton. The higher raise would cost about $500 million.

by CNB