House coalition to oppose Reagan nerve-gas plan

A bipartisan House coalition predicted it would successfully block President Reagan's proposal that the United States resume production of lethal nerve gas.

Mr. Reagan has urged Congress to approve $56 million next year for so-called binary nerve gas, which consists of two nonlethal chemicals that mix after firing to form a deadly gas. Mr. Reagan says it is safer to store than existing gas stocks, and is needed to deter Soviet chemical warfare.

But congressional opponents of the Reagan plan told a press conference Monday that resuming US production of nerve gas after a 13-year moratorium would seriously hurt relations with allies in NATO.