PITTSBURGH — The budget sent by President Obama to Congress on Tuesday includes $85 million to establish a squadron of C-17 carbon planes at a Western Pennsylvania Air Force base.

Local officials hailed the decision to add the squadron to the 911th Airlift Wing, which is based at Pittsburgh International Airport in Moon Township.

The base is already home to eight C-130s, and U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., says the funding will pay for construction of hangars, taxiways and ramps to accommodate the larger C-17s, which are used to move troops and supplies between the U.S. and overseas.

The base has faced a number of closure recommendations, but Lt. Governor Mike Stack said the funding means the region probably “will never again have to worry” about the base being closed.