House freezes MX funds until the site is specified

July 10, 1981

The house voted to freeze $1.1 billion for development of the MX missile basing system until President Reagan decides where to put the missiles. The Air Force wants to shuttle 200 MX missiles among 4,600 shelters in Nevada and Utah. But that plan -- opposed by many Westerners -- is under review by the administration, with a decision expected soon.

The vote to freeze funds for the multiple protective structure plan came as the house worked on the 1982 defense appropriations bill. Similar amendments have been added to other defen se bills recently by both the House and Senate.