Spending bill highlights

 Highlights of the $1 trillion-plus 2012 spending legislation in Congress:

• $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.

Associated Press