Congressman fights for Airborne Lasers. (Washington Pulse).

The highest-ranking Democrat on the House Budget Committee offered an amendment to the Defense Appropriations bill to transfer $30 million from the space-based kinetic boost program to the airborne laser program. "The administration's budget request seeks to resurrect a space-based system to shoot down missiles in the boost phase with a kinetic energy interceptor, a path the Reagan-era Strategic Defense Initiative followed twice before and failed miserably," said Rep. John Spratt, D-S.C. "We should not let this bad idea drain money from more pressing military needs."

His amendment would restore $30 million of the $60 million cut to the Airborne Laser program. "ABL is the most promising and realistic program to intercept missiles in the boost phase. Restoring this $30 million cut will keep the ABL program on schedule to conduct the rigorous testing we need to see whether ABL can pass muster," he said.

The amendment passed the House of Representatives by a voice vote.