WASHINGTON - Utah's Hill Air Force Base, which escaped major layoffs so far in the latest round of base closures, would get nearly $40 million to upgrade its facilities under legislation approved Wednesday by a Senate committee. Utah's share of the proposed Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill tops $62 million, with Hill getting the largest chunk. The bill now heads to the full Senate. "Utah's military installations handle some of the Defense Department's top missions, and they deserve to have the best equipment and facilities to execute them," said Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee who pushed for the funding. If the bill passes as is, Hill would get three projects worth $33.9 million, with $19.5 million of that going toward a software support facility. Hill's Software Engineering Division develops, tests and maintains software and related hardware for weapon systems. Hill also would get $9.8 million toward constructing three new facilities to house Minuteman III missiles, freeing up space for other uses; and $4.6 million to assist in repairing and storing F/A-22s. Dugway Proving Ground would get $25 million to demolish its existing runway and build a new, 11,000-foot by 150-foot runway, which will act as an emergency landing field for Hill. Camp Williams would get $3.3 million for a new readiness center to house the 144th Army Field Evacuation Hospital Unit. - Thomas Burr