WASHINGTON, D.C. : Orbiting Lab Funds Survive House Vote

The House beat back attempts to stop or reduce funding for the orbiting science lab program, scheduled to be launched in late 1997, authorizing $1.8 billion for the station on a 286-127 vote. The station is part of a larger $19.7-billion measure covering a panoply of civilian science projects that was passed later Thursday night on a voice vote. Rep. Tim Roemer (D-Ind.) tried and failed to reduce the station’s budget by 3%. He argued that the station--originally budgeted at $8 billion--is “cannibalizing” other valuable space projects. But Rep. Bud Cramer (R-Ala.) noted that there have been 10 votes on the House floor since 1991 on the space station. “It’s time for us to get off of NASA’s back,” Cramer said.