Congress: Money for Chemical Warfare

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For the past three years, the House of Representatives resisted approving money for chemical weapons despite vigorous lobbying by the Reagan Administration. But last week, after another round of Administration arm twisting, the House authorized $124.5 million to develop shells and bombs that will use nerve gas. Said Illinois Republican John Porter, who led the opposition to the bill: "I have President Reagan's tire tracks down my back."

The two chemical components that produce nerve gas for the new weapons system would be stored in separate states; these chemicals become lethal only when combined. The House added severe restrictions to its approval. Unlike the Senate's appropriation of $163.5 million in late May, the House money could / not be released until September of 1987 and is contingent upon the President's certifying that the lethal weapons are needed for national security. The House also insisted that America's NATO allies permit chemical weapons to be stored on their territory, something they have strenuously opposed in the past. So where does that leave the chemical weapons program? "It means we're on second base," says Missouri Democrat Ike Skelton, a leader in the fight for approval. "We struck out the three previous years, but we're in scoring position now."