O'NEILL, Neb-  A northeast Nebraska hospital could be getting millions of dollars for improvements from the federal government.

The Senate Appropriations Committee advanced the Labor, Health, and Human Services Appropriations Act on Thursday. U.S. Senator Deb Fischer sponsored the inclusion of $18 million in funding to support health care facilities in Nebraska.

$3.5 million of that would go to the City of O’Neill to replace the boiler and water heating systems at Avera St. Anthony’s hospital. The hospital experienced major damage last year because of a natural gas explosion at a neighboring church facility.

The act now awaits consideration on the Senate Floor.