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[Second Issue of the Day]
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House Dems Lose Russian Nukes Move
October 30, 2001
By ALAN FRAM
WASHINGTON (AP) - House Democrats lost an effort Tuesday to add money to a program aimed at keeping Russian nuclear weapons away from terrorists.
By voice vote, House lawmakers working with senators to craft a compromise energy and water spending bill rejected an effort by Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Texas, that would have added $131 million to a $173 million program that helps Russia guard its nuclear facilities.
The $173 million is the same amount that was provided for the program last year.
``That's business as usual,'' Edwards said after the meeting. ``We're faced with a war against terrorism, and the terrorists have declared war on us.''
Opponents objected to Edwards' plan to take the money from a separate program for nuclear-armed cruise missiles. But they also agreed that nuclear nonproliferation efforts must be strengthened and told him they look for extra money in future bills.
``There's no question we should be helping the Russians,'' said Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., who chairs the Senate Appropriations subcommittee that oversees energy and water spending. ``It's really in our interest to help them.''
Overall, the bill contains $803 million for nuclear nonproliferation, including money for other programs that create jobs for Russian nuclear scientists so they won't be tempted to work for terror groups. That is $69 million less than this year, but $29 million more than President Bush requested.
The bill has a $24.6 billion price tag, $573 million more than last year and $2 billion above Bush's request. The measure must now be approved by the full House and Senate.
The legislation includes $60 million for new water projects, a favorite of lawmakers, and extra money for renewable energy research and cleanups of Energy Department nuclear waste sites.
Bargainers also decided to drop House-approved language that would have blocked the Army Corps of Engineers from seasonally altering water flows on the Missouri River, a battle that has pitted upstream and downstream business interests against each other.
A Senate-passed provision, which remains in the bill, lets the Corps study various alternatives. The battle will be fought again next year.
House-Senate bargainers also adopted a second spending bill, a near $3 billion measure to finance Congress' own operations. It is $245 million higher than was spent last year, and $13 million more than Bush sought.
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