A request more than 15 years in the making to replace outdated housing at the 911th Airlift Wing cleared a big hurdle yesterday as the $12.4 million funding request was approved by the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee.

The Military Construction Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2010 still must pass both the House and Senate and be signed by the president before construction can begin.

The existing quarters for visiting airmen at the 911th, near Pittsburgh International Airport, were built in 1952 and fail to meet current construction standards, including for fire protection.

The living quarters require that multiple people sleep in the same room, and bathroom facilities are located down the hall -- much like an older style dormitory, said Shawn M. Walleck, a spokesman for the 911th.