By AP/KWMU
Washington, DC – The U.S. Senate approved legislation on Thursday that would let the Air Force buy more C-17 transport planes.
Most of the Boeing craft C-17 is built in California, but several components are assembled in St. Louis.
The program appeared in jeopardy recently after the Defense Department said no more C-17s were needed beyond the current order. That could affect almost 2,000 workers in Missouri.
The legislation that passed is part of a larger Defense budget bill that still needs final negotiations before becoming law. The language specifically would authorize the Air Force to purchase up to 42 new C-17s and allow the Pentagon to approve more in the future.