Congressional negotiators resolved differences Friday that had stalled a nearly $1 billion aid package for Poland and Hungary to help the two countries adopt a free market economy.
The House and Senate were moving toward ratification of the package that would authorize $938 million in aid over a period of years, $846.5 million of it for Poland.The bill could be sent to President Bush while Solidarity founder Lech Walesa - who pleaded for aid and investment earlier this week - is still in the country.
A separate appropriations bill, however, that contains $532.8 million in aid - $449.8 million for Poland - faces the possibility of a veto because of a provision sending $15 million to a controversial U.N. family planning program.
During negotiations on the $1 billion aid package, Senate bargainers effectively conceded they could not convince the House to add unrelated tax provisions to the bill.
And negotiators decided to water down a conservative demand that would have cut off the aid if either nation were found to have given military or police aid to Cuba or Nicaragua. Negotiators also refused to add language dealing with Chinese satellite launches.
"We've got to finish this conference today or we're not going to have a Poland aid bill," chief House negotiator Dante Fascell, D-Fla., warned when roadblocks were thrown up during the talks.
Sen. Paul Simon, D-Ill., and Rep. Sam Gejdenson, D-Conn., fought strongly against language that would have cut off the assistance if Poland were found to be aiding Cuba or Nicaragua.
"It's clear that Solidarity doesn't have control of the military in Poland," said Gejdenson, saying Moscow could embarrass the United States by ordering the Polish military to assist Nicaragua or Cuba and trigger a withdrawal of U.S. aid.