Here Are the Highlights From That $1 Trillion-Plus Spending Bill

Posted on December 17, 2011 at 1:33pm by Madeleine Morgenstern

Both the Senate and House of Representatives have passed a massive $1 trillion-plus piece of spending legislation — described as a “catchall budget bill” — which President Barack Obama is expected to sign.

Here are the highlights from the legislation, as compiled by the Associated Press:

-$518 billion for the Pentagon’s core budget, a 1 percent boost, excluding military operations overseas.

-$115 billion for Pentagon war costs in Iraq and Afghanistan, $43 billion less than 2011 costs.

-$7.2 billion to sustain and modernize the U.S. nuclear arsenal.

-$11.8 billion for the IRS, an almost 3 percent budget cut.

-$39.6 billion for homeland security programs, a 5 percent cut, though border security and immigration enforcement are increased.

-$8.4 billion for the Environmental Protection Agency, a 6 percent cut from the president’s request.

-$4.3 billion for the Indian Health Service, a 6 percent increase.

-$30.7 billion for health research, a 1 percent increase.

-$14.5 billion for Title I grants to schools, virtually the same as last year.

-$11.6 billion for grants to school districts for special needs children.

-$4.3 billion for Congress’ own budget, a 5 percent cut.

-$122.2 billion for veterans programs.

-$3.5 billion for low-income heating and utility subsidies, a cut of about 25 percent.

-$53.3 billion for foreign aid and the State Department’s budget.

-$8.1 billion for disaster aid.

-Reforms to the Pell Grant program that maintain the maximum award at $5,550 but limit the number of semesters the grants may be received and make income eligibility standards more strict.