But Chinese leaders still have not honored a months- old Administration request for a thorough private explanation.

So far, Congress has met all Administration requests for building the system, which is meant to consist of 321 stations in 90 countries.

Congress usually adds a few percentage points to Administration requests for health research, Congressional aides said.

Congress rarely raises the immigration service budget above Administration requests.

The $13.8 billion total was $1.3 billion below the Administration request and $628 million under last year's appropriation.

Congress is to vote in early February on an Administration request for more contra aid.

Congress is expected to vote later this year on an Administration request for at least $100 million in additional aid.

Future declassification would only be financed by Administration request.

The country, which was allotted $12 million in American aid last year, is one of the few to receive more money than the Administration requests.

The aim of the campaign, the official said, was to undermine any further Administration requests for aid to the contras.