THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, July 1, 1994                   TAG: 9407010377
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A10  EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT 
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                         LENGTH: Short :   32 lines

CARRIER TO BE BUILT LOCALLY SAILS THROUGH HOUSE VOTE

The Navy's newest aircraft carrier survived another key congressional vote with passage by the House late Wednesday of a bill appropriating $3.6 billion for its construction.

There was no challenge to the ship, now designated only as CVN-76, as the 1995 defense appropriations bill cleared the House shortly before its adjournment for the July Fourth holiday.

The ship, to be built at Newport News Shipbuilding, is the largest single item in the $263 billion military spending plan. Officials of the giant shipyard have said its construction is crucial to keeping the facility open. Even with the carrier, the yard's work force is expected to drop from about 21,000 to less than 15,000 by 1996.

The House action was hailed by Reps. Herbert H. Bateman, R-Newport News, and Norman Sisisky, D-Petersburg, the two congressmen who've been the ship's most prominent supporters.

``It's very, very nice to have it done'' Bateman said. Though senators still must give final approval to their version of the defense appropriations bill, they signaled their support for the carrier in a vote last week.

``It's not over until the president signs the bill, but it's 99 percent safe to declare a big victory,'' Sisisky said. by CNB