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

DATE: THURSDAY, June 8, 1995                   TAG: 9506290016
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                 LENGTH: Short

WAR POWERS REPEAL REJECTED

The House narrowly rejected an effort Wednesday by conservative Republicans to repeal the War Powers Act and give the president power to bypass Congress when he sends American troops into combat.

After an ironic debate in which Republicans argued to give more power to a Democratic president, the House voted, 217-201, against an amendment to a sweeping foreign aid bill that would have overturned the 1973 law.

Among Virginia's delegation, all Republicans voted for the amendment including the repeal. Democrats L.F. Payne of Nelson County and Rick Boucher of Abingdon voted against it.

The overall legislation would make deep cuts in foreign aid and dismantle aid, arms control and information agencies - steps opposed by the Clinton administration.

President Clinton, however, has joined past presidents in supporting repeal of the War Powers Act, a post-Vietnam War measure that gives Congress power over the sending of troops into battle.

Earlier Wednesday, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee rejected the recommendations of its chairman and voted to restore millions of dollars in U.S. contributions to the World Bank, United Nations and other agencies.

Opponents of repealing the act argued that Congress should not give up its power over military intervention abroad.

by CNB