
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, May 17, 1990                   TAG: 9005170337
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: The Washington Post
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Medium

BUSH URGES AID OK/ NICARAGUA PACKAGE STALLED IN CONGRESS

President Bush put out an "urgent appeal" to Congress Wednesday to end delay in approving $720 million in economic aid to Panama and Nicaragua, and House-Senate conferees indicated agreement on the measure may be reached soon.

At a news conference several hours before a scheduled meeting of the conferees, Bush said Nicaragua is desperate for help and that the administration is powerless to grant President Violeta Chamorro's request for a $40 million emergency "bridge loan" until Congress approves the aid bill.

Noting there is no guarantee Congress will approve the aid before it goes on a week-long Memorial Day recess at the end of next week, the president said he is calling on Congress to remain in session "until it completes action on a bill that I can sign.

"We must not let this procedural gridlock in the Congress destroy the hopes for freedom in these two fledgling democracies," he said, noting it has been two months since he requested the aid and urged approval by Easter.

Economic aid totaling $420 million for Panama and $300 million for Nicaragua is contained in a $3.4 billion omnibus supplemental spending bill that has gotten caught in a House-Senate cross-fire over domestic spending projects as well as a separate dispute over conditions on military aid to El Salvador.

Bush has also threatened to veto the measure, however, unless Congress drops language added by the Senate to allow the District to use local funds to finance abortions for poor women. He reiterated the threat Wednesday, saying he would not sign any bill "with that mischievious language placed on it."

Although administration officials have said they understand the Senate will abandon its abortion proposal to avoid a veto, Sen. Brock Adams, D-Wash., chairman of the D.C. appropriations subcommittee, said he plans to insist on the proviso at least for now.

by CNB