THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, February 17, 1995              TAG: 9502170563
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A2   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: THE NEW YORK TIMES 
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                         LENGTH: Medium:   76 lines

HOUSE OKS FUNDING CUTS FOR U.N. PEACEKEEPING THE BILL WOULD ALSO GIVE CONGRESS A SAY IN COMMITTING TROOPS; A VETO IS LIKELY.

Defying President Clinton's veiled threat of a veto, the House of Representatives on Thursday approved a bill that would cut U.S. payments for U.N. peacekeeping efforts and give Congress a greater say in committing troops abroad.

By a vote of 241 to 181, lawmakers approved the national security tenets of the Republicans' ``Contract With America,'' after a campaign by Democrats and the Clinton administration succeeded in defeating or watering down a few important provisions.

In the final vote, 223 Republicans and 18 Democrats voted for the bill; 176 Democrats, four Republicans, and one Independent voted against.

Republicans called their bill an effort to bolster a weakened military and fight the growing influence of the United Nations over America's troops and budget. Opponents said it would undermine the president's flexibility to deal with foreign crises.

The measure would deduct from Washington's annual peacekeeping dues the extra costs the Pentagon incurs in American-run military missions that receive the blessing of the United Nations - like the one in Haiti. As those costs exceeded the $1 billion in dues this year, critics said, the measure would bankrupt the U.N. peacekeeping budget.

The bill now goes to the Senate, where the majority leader, Bob Dole of Kansas, has introduced legislation imposing similar restrictions on peacekeeping missions.

``Today's action in the House on U.N. peacekeeping is good news for U.S. foreign policy and U.S. taxpayers,'' Dole said after the House vote. ``It is high time that we rein in U.N. peacekeeping, which is out of control.''

But the bill faces an uphill fight in the Senate, which is more likely to respect presidential prerogatives on foreign and military policy.

In addition to limiting American financial contributions to peacekeeping, the measure would set restrictions on when American troops may serve under U.N. command and would create a $1.5 million bipartisan commission to study national security strategy.

One central provision - speeding the fielding of a national defense against ballistic missiles - was defeated by concerns about its cost.

Another, requiring congressional approval before U.S. troops could join any new U.N. peacekeeping missions, succumbed to an assertion by the administration and Democrats that it would infringe on presidential authority.

But the bill still would give Congress a role, not only by limiting the financing of troop missions abroad but also by prohibiting American troops from serving under U.N. commanders unless the president cites a national security need.

The administration and many Democrats complained that many of the bill's provisions were unnecessary and unsound. But the legislation is filled with waivers Clinton could use to get around parts he dislikes. The hitch is that Congress must approve the exemptions.

Defense Secretary William Perry and Secretary of State Warren Christopher have recommended that Clinton veto the bill in its present form. The House on Thursday fell far short of the 290 votes needed if all members are present to override a presidential veto. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic

HOW THEY VOTED

A ``yes'' vote is a vote to pass the bill.

Herbert H. Bateman, R-Va. Yes

Owen B. Pickett, D-Va. No

Robert C. Scott, D-Va. No

Norman Sisisky, D-Va. No

Eva Clayton, D-N.C. No

Walter Jones Jr., R-N.C. Yes

by CNB