House Panel Votes to Delete Chemical Weapons Funds : But Committee Refuses to Trim ‘Star Wars’ as It Approves Defense Appropriations Bill

WASHINGTON — The House Appropriations Committee, reviving the heated congressional battle over nerve gas production, voted narrowly Thursday to delete all funds for chemical weapons from the fiscal 1986 military spending bill.

At the same time, the committee--heeding arguments that President Reagan will need a strong hand at next month’s U.S.-Soviet summit--refused to slash $400 million from proposed funding for the so-called “Star Wars” missile defense program.

Both actions were taken shortly before the committee approved the $276.5-billion defense appropriations bill on a voice vote. The bill provides $27.5 billion less than Reagan originally requested and $1.3 billion less than last year’s funding level, but committee members asserted that major weapons programs and the armed forces’ readiness would not be diminished.

New Debate Expected

The nerve gas debate is certain to erupt again in coming weeks when the full House considers the defense appropriations measure and a controversial defense authorization bill approved by a Senate-House conference committee.

Only four months ago--and after three years of rejecting the idea--the House voted 229 to 196 to authorize new production of chemical weapons. The United States halted production unilaterally in 1969, but Administration officials contend that stockpiles of the weapons need to be modernized.

In its vote last June, the House placed two conditions on resumption of production: None of the funds could be spent during fiscal 1986 or 1987, and America’s North Atlantic Treaty allies had to agree to deployment of the weapons in Europe.

But a Senate-House conference committee threw out those conditions, angering many House members and leading several to provide the key votes Thursday to delete all $160 million for nerve gas production.

Symbolic Vote

In an interview, Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.), one of those who voted against the funding, described the 26-24 vote as a symbolic shot designed to pressure conferees to restore the conditions.

On the “Star Wars” issue, the committee voted 31 to 23 to reject an amendment that would have provided $2.1 billion for “Star Wars” research--still a 50% increase over last year’s funding level--instead of the $2.5 billion listed in the legislation.

“We were up against the Geneva summit and people who didn’t want to vote for any reduction,” conceded California Rep. Vic Fazio (D-Sacramento), the amendment’s sponsor. “Although the President has said ‘Star Wars’ is not a negotiable item, some still hope” it will be used as such when Reagan meets Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev on Nov. 19-20, he said.

Reagan originally requested $3.7 billion for the program, officially known as the Strategic Defense Initiative, which would employ laser beams and other advanced technology to blunt a Soviet missile attack. His request was a 165% increase over last year’s $1.4 billion in funding.

Support for President Urged

One key opponent of the amendment, Rep. Tom Loeffler (R-Tex.), said that “the worst thing we could do is be an opponent of the President” as he heads for the summit, at which arms control issues are expected to predominate.

In response, Rep. Robert J. Mrazek (D-N.Y.) argued: “I don’t believe we’ll undercut the President. His pocket is stuffed with a whole host of (weapons) programs” voted by Congress.

Fazio, who said he believes research on a missile defense system is necessary, nevertheless cited recent congressional testimony by former Defense Secretary James R. Schlesinger that the program could not absorb more than a 40% increase in one year. “It’s time to bring ‘Star Wars’ down to Earth,” the California congressman declared.

‘Way Ahead of the Game’

Spokesmen for a coalition of groups opposed to the program--on the grounds that it is costly, unworkable and threatens to escalate the arms race--said they were not entirely disappointed by the committee’s action.

Fred Wertheimer, president of the citizens’ lobby Common Cause, said in an interview that “we are way ahead of the game” compared to a similarly early stage in the coalition’s battle against development of the MX missile.

On the amendments to delete nerve gas money and to restrain “Star Wars” funding, Reps. Fazio, Edward R. Roybal (D-Los Angeles) and Julian C. Dixon (D-Los Angeles) voted for both propositions, while Reps. Jerry Lewis (R-Highland) and Bill Lowery (R-San Diego) opposed them.