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Dec. 18, 2009 6:27 AM PT _This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts._ Highlights of the Senate’s year-end
wrap-up legislation: DEFENSE SPENDING -- $626 billion for the Pentagon for the budget year that began Oct. 1, including $128 billion for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. -- 3.4%
pay increase for service members. -- $104 billion for weapons procurement, including 30 next-generation Joint Strike Fighters, 10 C-17 Cargo jets not requested by President Obama and $15
billion for seven new Navy ships. Shuts down the costly F-22 fighter program and the much-criticized new presidential helicopter. -- Rejects Obama’s request for $100 million to close the
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, prison. -- Permits Guantanamo detainees to be transferred to the U.S. to stand trial. EXTENSIONS OF CURRENT LAW UNTIL FEB. 28 -- Continued unemployment benefits for the
long-term jobless. -- 65% health insurance subsidy for the unemployed. -- Highway and transit funding. -- Prevents a 21% cut in Medicare payments to physicians. -- Three provisions of the
anti-terrorism Patriot Act. -- Satellite television laws governing the transmission of local broadcast signals. -- Waives fees on Small Business Administration loans and increases to 90% the
portion of such loans guaranteed by the SBA. -- Associated Press
