Senate approves funds for Caribbean Basin aid

President Reagan's Caribbean Basin economic development plan won its first big victory in Congress with Senate approval of $355 million in aid for the region.

By a 54-42 vote, the Senate rejected an effort to cut economic and military aid for a number of countries out of a $9 billion appropriations bill. The funds left in the overall appropriations bill included $128 million in economic aid and $20 million in military aid for El Salvador. The appropriations bill is expected to be approved by the Senate later this week.