Highlights of the State of the Union

Highlights of President Bush's State of the Union, as outlined by the White House on Monday:

ECONOMY

--Prod Congress to adopt $150 billion economic stimulus package of tax rebates for an estimated 117 million families and tax breaks for businesses.

--Ask for first-term tax cuts to be made permanent. They are set to expire in 2010.

--Seek approval of pending free-trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea.

IRAQ

--Tout reduced violence in Iraq and reassert that timing of U.S. troop withdrawals will depend on continued success in securing that country.

--Characterize the war as vital to American security and caution that the United States should not turn its back on Iraq.

SPENDING

--Promise to veto any spending bill that doesn't cut the number and cost of congressional pet projects, known as earmarks, in half.

--Pledge to sign an executive order directing federal agencies to ignore earmarks that are tucked into "report" language instead of being spelled out in law.

FOREIGN POLICY

--Offer support for U.S.-backed Mideast peace process, with goal of a deal between Israelis and Palestinians by end of his presidency.

--Reiterate his call for Congress to double U.S. money for the global fight against HIV/AIDS, from $15 billion to $30 billion over the next five years.

--Warn leaders of Iran that the United States will confront those who threaten its troops and will defend its interests in the Persian Gulf.

EDUCATION

--Push for renewal of his No Child Left Behind Act, the education law that requires more student testing and sanctions for schools that fall short.

--Call for a $300 million initiative to let poor students in struggling schools transfer to private school or a public school outside their district.

TERRORISM

--Push Congress to permanently extend anti-terrorism law set to expire on Friday. It governs how U.S. intelligence agencies can carry out surveillance of phone calls and e-mails involving people inside the United States.

MILITARY

--Call on Congress to adopt recommendations from the bipartisan commission he appointed to review care for wounded veterans.

--Propose hiring preferences across the federal government for spouses of nation's veterans, as the veterans themselves now have.

--Ask Congress to allow service members of every military branch to transfer their unused G.I. education benefits to their spouses or children.