Details of $787 billion stimulus package spending

The $787 billion US economic stimulus package provides for about $500 billion in spending and $287 billion in tax breaks, according to the latest congressional calculations. President Barack Obama signed the bill into law on Tuesday, saying it can help drive the US economy out of recession.

Here is a summary of some of the major spending in the package:
--$120 billion for infrastructure and science, including $27.5 billion for highway projects, $8.4 billion for public transportation and $9.3 billion for Amtrak and high-speed rail service. It also includes $7.2 billion to improve access to high-speed Internet in unserved or underserved areas. An additional $4.2 billion is set aside for energy efficiency projects at US defense facilities. Also, $6 billion is allocated for local clean water projects and $6 billion is directed toward environmental cleanup of former weapon production and research sites.

--Health spending that includes $19 billion to encourage doctors and hospitals to upgrade computers and other technology to share patient information to improve care and save costs. Also, $1 billion is allocated for wellness and prevention programs and $1.1 billion for studies on the cost effectiveness of various treatments. About $10 billion is available for biomedical research such as cancer, Alzheimer's and heart disease and to improve facilities at the National Institutes of Health.

--Some $21 billion is available to help workers who lose their jobs maintain employer-provided health insurance through the COBRA program, a federal law that allows workers to temporarily maintain coverage at 102 percent of the cost. The bill provides a 65 percent subsidy for up to nine months.

--Some $53.6 billion for a stabilization fund to help cash-strapped states plug holes in their budgets. Most of the money is to be used to avoid education cutbacks and layoffs but a portion is available for school modernization. Also, $13 billion is available for a program to help disadvantaged students and $12.2 billion for the education of disabled children.

--Energy spending includes $4.5 billion to improve the energy efficiency of federal buildings and $11 billion to modernize the electricity grid and upgrade technology so customers can instantly see the price of power they are buying. Also, $3.4 billion is set aside for fossil energy research and development and $5 billion for weatherization assistance. About $6.3 billion is available for energy efficiency conservation grants and $6 billion for new loan guarantees for wind and solar projects.

--Aid for poor families includes $19.9 billion in additional food stamp assistance. The aid is increased by 13.6 percent.