NATION IN BRIEF : WASHINGTON, D.C. : House OKs Money for Moon Mission

The House passed a $44-billion, three-year spending authorization bill for NASA that includes President Bush’s proposal to place a settlement on the moon and to begin work on a manned expedition to Mars. The bill includes no money for the moon and Mars programs in the next fiscal year but would spend $444 million on them in fiscal 1992 and $649 million in fiscal 1993. The bill, approved on a voice vote after a brief debate, now goes to a conference committee to work out differences with the Senate. The House passed a similar authorization last year, but the Senate never took action.