A U.S. Senate subcommittee has approved $404 million in federal spending for the construction of a new federal research laboratory at Kansas State University.

The vote Tuesday sends the funding for the National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility to the full Senate Appropriations Committee for consideration. The money is part of the Department of Homeland Security budget for 2014.

Federal officials want to build the $1.25 billion lab to replace an aging facility at Plum Island, N.Y., to conduct research on animal diseases.

State officials have approved spending up to $305 million in bond proceeds as part of its cost to construct the lab. Ground has been broken on a central utility plant that will service the lab.

Tuesday’s development was announced by Kansas Sens. Pat Roberts and Jerry Moran.