A new $800,000 Butte emergency operations center is one step closer to reality.

The Senate passed the Homeland Security Appropriations Act, which includes funding for the facility. It will now go to the President to be signed into law.

In a news release issued by Senators Jon Tester and Max Baucus, Silver Bow County Commissioner Charlie O'Leary said Butte's current emergency operations center, located in the basement of the Silver Bow County Courthouse, is so cramped it "doesn't meet the needs of our emergency operations."

Butte's new emergency operations center will likely be built in a new location and include more space and better communications equipment.  Butte-Silver Bow County is contributing nearly $500,000 of the total cost of the new facility.

"This will be a long-awaited investment in Butte-Silver Bow," said Tester "It's funding that will put people to work and will make the entire region a safer place to live.  I'm proud to support this project and that's why I voted for it every step of the way."

"This is a badly needed investment in the city of Butte," said Baucus.  "It's an investment that will better protect Montanans and create good-paying jobs in the process.  It is another good step in keeping Montana a safe place to raise a family."