U.S. Army Captain Michael Kelvington, commander of the Battle company, 1-508 Parachute Infantry battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, bows next to remains of Gulam Dostager, a member of Afghan Local Police who was killed in the blast of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) during the joint Tor Janda (Black Flag in Pashtu) operation, in Zahri district of Kandahar province, southern Afghanistan May 25, 2012.  REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov  (AFGHANISTAN - Tags: MILITARY CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

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Members of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels fly over the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan as part of the 25th annual Fleet Week celebration in New York, May 23, 2012.  REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz (UNITED STATES - Tags: MILITARY ANNIVERSARY TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

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FACTBOX: Economic stimulus bill moves through Congress

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Thu Feb 5, 2009 3:57pm EST

(Reuters) - A massive economic stimulus bill is winding its way through the Congress, pushed by Democratic leaders who want to present President Barack Obama with legislation he can sign by mid-February.

Here is the status of the legislation being debated in the Senate and also the $819 billion version passed in the House of Representatives. Both are controversial and aim to jump-start an economy that has been in recession since December 2007:

THE SENATE

* The Senate was in its fourth day of debate on Thursday of a bill now totaling about $920 billion, not counting government interest payments on the borrowed money. The funds would be spent this way, although major changes are possible:

- $365.6 billion for construction projects, to improve the healthcare system and other priorities. The spending is similar to the House bill's.

- $522 billion in tax cuts and other spending provisions on programs like health care and grants to states. It also includes a one-year fix of the Alternative Minimum Tax to shield middle-class taxpayers from paying a tax originally intended only for the wealthiest taxpayers, a provision that alone costs almost $70 billion.

- Approximately $18 billion for expanding for one year an existing $7,500 tax credit for first-time home buyers to all purchasers of principal residences. And it would boost the credit as high as $15,000, or 10 percent of the home price, whichever is less.

- $11 billion in tax incentives aimed at boosting U.S. automobile sales, which have been plunging. Interest payments on car loans would be tax deductible for new cars bought from November 12, 2008, through 2009.

THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

* The House passed the Democratic version of the legislation without any support from Republicans. The $819 billion includes, in figures that are rounded up:

- $358 billion in emergency spending on construction projects and other investments aimed at creating jobs. It also includes a boost in federal investment in education and an expansion of food aid programs.

- $275 billion in temporary tax cuts for workers, tax incentives to produce renewable energy and breaks for builders and other companies that would be allowed to write off current losses against five previous tax years.

- $48 billion to help unemployed people keep their health insurance and to invest in health information technology.

- $46 billion for expanded unemployment benefits and aid to needy families and child support.

- $100 billion that includes money to improve broadband Internet access, invest more in clean energy and energy efficiency. It also has about $87 billion to help states pay increasing Medicaid health insurance costs for the poor.

STILL TO COME:

* Before trying to pass the bill, the Senate will wade through many amendments, including several from Republicans that would kill parts or all of the Democrats' spending provisions. Instead, Republicans would focus on a series of tax breaks. Obama is consulting with Democratic and Republican senators and says he is open to fresh ideas.

* Senate leaders are hoping to pass their version of the bill this week. If and when that happens, House and Senate negotiators would meet to work out differences next week.

* Democrats hope final votes on the completed bill would be held next week, with Obama signing it into law promptly.

(Compiled by Richard Cowan and Jeremy Pelofsky; editing by David Wiessler and Vicki Allen)

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