House Approves $9.5 Billion for NASA in 1988

WASHINGTON — The House approved a $9.5-billion program for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration on Thursday after refusing to trim the bill to the level envisioned in the fiscal 1988 budget.

The bill, approved 372 to 34 and sent to the Senate, authorizes the space agency’s programs for next year, including work toward the resumption of space shuttle flights and the construction of a permanent manned space station. In Congress’ two-step spending process, final outlays must be approved later in an appropriations bill.

The largest part of the bill, $4 billion, would be for spaceflight and related tasks, just slightly less than the amount requested by the Reagan Administration. The $3.7 billion for research and development would be $74 million more than the Administration asked.

In addition, the bill covers space agency management, facilities and a separate Office of Commercial Space Transportation in the Transportation Department.

Curbs on Military Fail

The House, by voice vote, dropped language in the bill that was designed to limit military uses of the program. By a 268-135 vote, the House stripped from the bill a provision designed to make sure the civilian agency’s top leadership did not become dominated by military-trained personnel.

Rep. Bruce A. Morrison (D-Conn.) offered an amendment to reduce the bill by $150 million to bring it within the guidelines of the fiscal 1988 budget approved by Congress last month. Space agency supporters argued that cuts could be made later, if necessary, and the amendment was defeated, 257 to 148.