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By ANDREW TAYLOR Associated Press Writer Washington (AP) The Senate has approved big budget increases for the Interior Department and the Environmental Protection Agency in a $32 billion spending measure for the budget year that starts next week.

The measure is eSPECIALly generous with EPA grants to cities and counties for clean and safe drinking water projects. Democrats say the money will create much-needed infrastructure jobs and ease a backlog on water projects.

The measure is the sixth of the 12 annual spending bills setting agency operating budgets the Senate has passed.

The bill would provide a 17 percent boost for the programs it covers. They include $2.6 billion for the Forest Service to combat wildfires and $4 billion for the Indian Health Service.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 09-24-09 1728CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list