WASHINGTON -- In an otherwise lean budget year, the House is poised to boost funding to take care of the medical needs of the nation's veterans.

But the GOP-dominated chamber will soon resume its budget-slashing ways as it kicks off debate Tuesday on a food and farm spending bill that cuts aid for low-income pregnant women and their children and slashes a key overseas food aid program by about one-third below this year's funding.

At the same time, the Appropriations Committee is set to approve a $649 billion measure that slightly boosts the Pentagon's operating budget while cutting costs for overseas military operations by $39 billion, reflecting a drawing down of troops in Iraq and Afghanistan