WASHINGTON, March 2 Congress is using NASAs funding for the International Space Station (ISS) as a club to beat the Russians.

The Iran Nonproliferation Act, which has been unanimously approved by the House and Senate, is on its way to President Clinton, who is expected to sign it. The act would deny further payments from NASA to Russia to help build the ISS -- unless the White House determines Moscow is not transferring ballistic missiles to Iran.

The bill makes exceptions for $14 million out of $35 million in potential sales to Russia.

NASA spokesman Dwayne Brown said that while the act creates no threat to the ISS schedule, "it may impact the ability for NASA to make purchases in a timely manner."

He also said the bill has yet to affect delivery schedules to the station.

Citing reports that a variety of Russian aerospace enterprises are helping Iran build ballistic missiles, the bills co-sponsor, Rep. James Sensenbrenner, (R-Wisconsin), said that increasing aid to Russia for the ISS puts taxpayers in an "unacceptable" situation of possibly helping Iran make weapons of mass destruction.

The $14 million exception applies to docking hardware that NASA needs in order to send its own interim control module. The interim control module is a U.S.-funded backup mission in case Russia fails to deliver its own Zvezda service module, scheduled for mid-July.

But it was unclear what the remaining $21 million restricted from being sent to Russia was originally intended for.

Brown said the delivery of goods and services which can range from docking system parts to research could be delayed. But he said it was too early to tell which parts might be jeopardized, because NASA was "negotiating with the Russians now on that."

Brown said that while NASA doesnt normally get involved in foreign policy, it doesnt have a choice in this case. "If this is something that is an issue, we will follow the administration and Congress wishes," Brown said.

Space policy experts said the bill is not the first time NASA has been caught in the middle of U.S. policy debates regarding Russia and the ISS.

"People would argue that NASA has been involved in foreign policy between the U.S. and Russia since 1993," said Marcia Smith, space policy analyst at the Congressional Research Service.

In the early stages of developing the ISS project in 1993, NASA asked Russia to cancel shipments of cryogenic engine technology, used for rocket propulsion, in order to join. Russia was shipping such parts to Iran, Congress charged, citing reports from the CIA.

"One of the strong rationales for inviting Russia into the station was a nonproliferation rationale," said John Logsdon, director of the Space Policy Institute at George Washington University.

"If Russia is not abiding, they deserve to be called on it," Logsdon said. "If they are abiding by the commitment then the bill is moot."