Factbox-What is in the US government funding bill before Congress?

investing.com:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) — Five months into the fiscal year, congressional negotiators have unveiled the first tranche of bills to avert a partial government shutdown, with Republicans and Democrats touting the portions of the legislation that embraced their key priorities.

Below are some of the details from the 1,050-page bill.

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT

House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson touted the fact that the legislation bars the Justice Department «from targeting parents exercising their right to free speech before school boards.»

A section of the measure «prohibits the Department from targeting or investigating parents who peacefully protest at school board meetings and are not suspected of engaging in unlawful activity.»

Republicans took issue with a department memo issued in 2021 that said it was using its authority to discourage a spike in harassment, threats and intimidation of school officials. Attorney General Merrick Garland has defended the memo, saying authorities never used the FBI against parents.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Johnson said the measure imposed deep cuts on the Environmental Protection Agency, while Democrats said the bill rejected drastic cuts to environmental programs.

The bill cuts funding to the EPA to $9.16 billion, down from $10.1 billion in the previous fiscal year. But it maintains staffing levels and funding for several programs.

BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND FIREARMS

Johnson said Republicans had won deep cuts to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. The bill cuts funding to the ATF by about 7%. Much of that decrease stems from the fact that there are not construction expenses included for the bureau in the current fiscal year.

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Both